Sunday, March 30, 2014

"Keep on using me until you use me up"

God is not looking to be used by people for their glory. He is looking to use people for His Glory. Check your motives.
1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:8-9, John 3:30

"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be accountable. 

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Sunday, March 23, 2014

Jesus is my hero

Jesus is a Wonder of a Counselor, He not only understands our troubles but He gives us the grace to overcome them (Hebrews 4:14-16). He is a Mighty God, there is nothing that can overcome Him, He has overcome all. So any obstacle I face in life is already defeated because The Overcomer now lives in me (1 John 4:4, Romans 8:37) He is the Father of Eternity, He is forever our Father. He disciplines us out of love and He will allow nothing to separate us from His Love (Hebrews 12:5-12, Romans 8:38-39). And He is the Prince of Peace, He has brought us peace with God and gives peace to our soul (Romans 5:1-11, Isaiah 26:3-4, John 14:27). So Christian we do not worry or fret because The Lord has covered us on every side. We have no vulnerability because Christ has provided us with eternal stability.  Stay focused you can do this.

"In His JOY!"

Isaiah 9:6

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Sunday, March 16, 2014

"The Mentalist"

My thoughts captivate me. They swarm around my mind like bees to a bee hive. Ranging from sad to sinful to holy. They seem unrelenting in their pursuit of trying gain my attention and complete devotion. Which one do I choose to focus on and follow? The sad ones try create emotional handicaps for me in life? The sinful ones temp me to act on wicked compulsions? And the holy ones take the focus off me and place it on God?

If I focus on sadness, sleep will escape me and I will only fantasize of ways my sadness will increase. If I focus on sin it is like throwing gasoline on a fire, it will only intensify the desire until it has consumed me. And I feel contentment until I have acted out that sin. But if I focus on God my mind will consider what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praise worthy. 

What do you choose Christian? Where do you direct your attention? What will you allow to captivate your thoughts? Our thoughts should focus on Christ because He helps us keep things in proper perspective. When we focus on anything else our minds run wild and untamed.  

It is a choice we must make. I can focus on things that are perishable and be robbed of my slumber. Or I can focus on Christ and give Him the worries of my thoughts because He desires to handle any worry or care I may have. Simply because He loves me. The answer is clear, think Christ like...just saying think about it.

Philippians 4:8, 1 Peter 5:7, 
2 Corinthians 4:18

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Sunday, March 9, 2014

"Monsters under my bed"

At night we tend to find ourselves left alone to battle our thoughts. The worries of the day, fears of tomorrow, and uncertainty of the outcome of our problems keep us up. They are the monsters under our bed that lay in wait to attack us. They remind us of how weak and frail we are. The show us our inability to control life and solve its problems. For those who do not know Christ, this is something they face every night. So they turn to addictions, spend countless nights club hopping, and/or find other ways to stop the noise of their worried soul. But you Christian are not like them. You have a Solution. You have a shelter you can run to. Between you and your problems stands The Almighty. You can trust Him, He will not fail you. He tells you not to fear the terrorist of the night, the seeds of worry that grow in your thoughts throughout the day, the monster of problems that lurk in your inner most thoughts, or the dreadful reports you received during the noon hour. We need not fear any of these because Christ is our shield and protection. Because His faithfulness to us does not wane or falter. He cannot grow weak, weary, or tired. Our problems bow in His presence and submit to His Will. The monster of life my hide under our beds but he is no match for The Lion of Judah. We call our Protector by name and He answers, He is more than our body-guard, He is our Father who guards our soul. There is none like Him and they will never be one like Him. He is the Irreplaceable, One and Only, True and Just, Holy and Worthy God. And we rest assured knowing that the One who watches us does not sleep nor slumber. It is our hope in Him that renews our strength. Because He has given us rest and has troubled our troubles so that they turn and flee. He stays up so we can sleep, so rest easy tonight. Your Guardian is on duty. Psalm 91, 121:3-4, Isaiah 40:28

"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/

"He is near"

He is with us wherever we are. He is with us in the peaceful moments and times of great peril. He is with us in the midst of our enemies and invites us to take residence at His House. Christian regardless of where you may be right not remember that God is with you. And where He is so is His Peace, Strength, Protection, Provision, and Abundant Life. Rest in Him, He is with you. Stay focused you can do this.

Psalm 23

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Sunday, March 2, 2014

"Sicko, go see a doctor"

Why do we work with ungodly people? Why do we even want to talk to the atheist neighbors? Why do we spend time sharing The Gospel with those who mock us? Because the sick need a doctor.

God puts the brightest lights in the darkest spots so others may come to know the truth. If Christians spent all their time around other Christians how would the message of the Gospel every get out. How would the world know who Jesus is? Jesus spent time with sinners but He did not indulge in their sin with them, we should do the same.

Your friends that do not know Jesus will be quicker to come over your house for dinner then they would to go to church with you. They will be more tolerant of hearing the truth of the Gospel come from your lips then a preacher on Sunday or a televangelist on Monday.

We often lose sight of the mission God gave us in Matthew 28:18-20. Our job is to reach out to the lost. Some of us God will send to the most outwardly ungodly people but inwardly they are starving for spiritual help. We cannot only invest time in those who know Jesus, we have to invest time in those who are far from God.

I used to complain about the people I worked with, the schools I attended, and even the people who I ran into . I would tell God how ungodly these people were and how I just wanted to work full-time in ministry. But God, graciously, reminded me that my righteousness is like filthy rags and I was in the place I was to bring others to Him. I was there as a representative of Christ and not to complain about the sins if others. I was the light bulb and He was the Light that shinned through me. It was my job to stay put so He could shine His light of truth in a world filled with dark lies. But I had to humble myself and invest time in the lives of others.

We are quick to go to a third world country or a low economic neighborhood to share the Gospel with strangers. We will neglect to reach out to our coworkers, neighbors, family, and friends because they know us. And they see our struggles with sin, so to seem less hypocritical or to continue to freely indulge in sin we remain silent, this ought not be.

The mission field starts in the microcosm of your house and branches our to the macrocosm of your neighborhood, place of employment, and friends.

Working in the world and sharing the Gospel is full-time ministry. You do not need a pulpit are a multimedia ministry to share truth. All you need is a willing heart to share God's truth and a determination that you are going to honor God by living a life that pleases Him.

Invite your co worker over for dinner and find a way that you can pray for them, bless them, and bring honor to God. Ask your neighbors if  they have something that you could pray for. Call your crazy cousin and text them an encouraging scripture. Offer to pay a bill for someone you know is far from God and tell them "Jesus loves you.". They may not understand it now but you are making an eternal investment.

What I am saying is God has not called Christians to live in an isolated bubble. He has not called us to act as ministers of silence. He has not called us to complain about the status of the world. He has called us to speak up. He has called us to go "out" and "reach" the lost. He has called us to impact the lives of others by investing in them. People are more reluctant to come to us so we must go to them. Jesus never said "Stay isolated and I will send people to you", no He told us to "Go make disciples and teach them." The lost are not like a tv dinner that we can pop in the microwave, no they are like the four coarse meal that has to prepared by hand. It will take time and effort on our part. But we must  invest in the lives of the lost so they can become found. Stay focused you can do this.

Share the Gospel, Read the Word, Be Accountable

Matthew 28:18-20

"In His JOY!"

http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/