Stripping Strife from our Life

 

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Gen 13:8  And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Stripping Strife from our Life.

Let there be no strife between us for we are brethren. Abram and Lot are living in the land south of Egypt and between Bethel and Hai.  Both of them together have too much for that area to support.  Those responsible for the herds of cattle are fussing and fighting over the water, places to graze the cattle and numerous other issues.  At this point, Abram makes a decision and gives Lot an opportunity.

“If you go to the Left I’ll go to the right, if you go to the right I’ll go to the left.” Lot looks out at the land and chooses the plain of Jordan for in his eyes the land was well watered everywhere.  Basically he chose the best and left the rest.   Before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah it was a lovely place.   Later in the story we see God tell Abram of his plan for him and gives him some directions and promises.  All the land is for him and his seed forever plus his seed will be as numerous as the dust of the earth.  Abram made the right decision to remove strife at all costs.

Jesus said in Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers:  for they shall be called the children of God.  Making peace and removing strife is very important.  Many businesses, churches, communities, homes, the news, and the list goes on of places that are plagued with strife.  It isn’t seen as the destructive force it is.  We all know or have seen how a person under the influence of strife and an instigator of negativity can tarnish the workplace, church, home or a nation as we have seen of late.   Abram and Jesus both knew the importance of peace and to remove strife.

We may not be able to change the world, but how about our area of influence.  I have a friend that is an author and she is a genuine gift.  The only thing I’ve ever heard said about her is “You know she is the nicest person I know. She hasn’t let her success go to her head and I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say a bad word about anyone and she absolutely loves the Lord.”    Yep…she’s known as a child of God.  She works very hard at keeping the peace and she’s been very successful and blessed.  To know her she is a peaceful person and has a soft presence.  It’s really odd…you would never know the success she has had or the trials she has faced.  She is just a normal every day kind of godly person living life at its best with God in the center and peace at her side.  You know those people that have been through so much and survived by the grace of God that they just can’t help but be happy? They are choosing a life of gratitude instead of having an attitude.

Let’s Pray:  Dear God, help us to be mindful of our words and actions. Let us be peacemakers among our friends and family.  Where there is strife, give us direction on how to bring peace. Help us be a light in our area of influence and give us wisdom on how to strip strife from our life.    In Jesus name, Amen (so be it.)

Daily Scripture Reading:  Genesis 12- 14, Matthew 5: 1-26

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Image courtesy of pakorn at FreeDigitalphotos.net

an2g@2015

 

 

Dealing with Temptation

ID-100142970Stones

Reading through the Bible in a Year Devotion 2015.    They say it’s progress and not perfection and you can’t improve if you don’t start.    I’m starting and I hope you’ll join me on this journey in 2015.   I’m sharing my daily inspiration throughout the year and I hope to inspire others.    It’s just me hanging with Jesus so I have no idea what topic or subject matter will come up over the year.

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

After Noah and his family have left the ark and are working the land, they have a vineyard. Noah celebrates a little too much with his new wine and is passed out in his tent. His son Ham the father of Canaan for some reason decides to go his father’s tent and see what the old drunk man is up to.   Well he finds his father who in a drunken stupor has left himself uncovered.   Apparently, Ham looks on the old man with disgust and maybe a little pride wells up inside him to see the one who has maybe scolded him for drinking too much is passed out from his own overindulgence.   He wants to tell of his discovery. Maybe he wants to make himself look better or just to embarrass his old man. Who knows?

When he tells his brothers, I think he is a little surprised. The juicy gossip that was to make him look good has backfired and his brothers do not join in with his delight of seeing their father’s error. They do the honorable thing and find a blanket. They walk in backwards to not see their father and drop the blanket over him covering him.

Jesus goes through a round of temptation also in Matthew 4.   He has fasted for 40 days and nights and is a hungry man.   It seems the tempter comes when we are at a certain point in our life just to kick us when we’re down.  Or to rub whatever challenge we are going through in our face.   Similar to Ham he waits for the right moment to find joy in another’s failure. He taunts Jesus about his hunger. Oh poor baby are you hungry? Well here, IF you are the Son of God turn these stones into bread and eat.   Jesus answers him with the written Word of God.

Jesus shows us right here how to deal with temptation.   However you are tempted; use the written word to fight back.   If it’s an overindulgence of food use the word. “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4 KJV) Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. ( Deu 8:3b KJV)

If you’re tempted to gossip or as Zig Ziglar has said “Some people find fault like there’s a reward for it.”  Fight back with Phillipians 4:8. If it’s not of good report then don’t report it. Ham, his family, and generations were made servants to the honorable brothers due to his actions. Dealing with this can be tough. In a society that gets great entertainment out of gossip and belittling those around them, it’s easy to forget and fail.

If that’s happened to you pray about it.   Confess it and take God’s forgiveness and do a 180. If you need to make amends then go ask for that person’s forgiveness and move on doing the right thing regardless of their actions.

Even though Ham was at a different time and a different covenant, his actions took away his blessing. His position of authority was removed and he was to serve after his Brothers who were promoted due to their actions.   In today’s terms, Noah said Happy, Happy, Happy is the Lord God of Shem and Japheth shall prosper.  Now that’s a compliment and a good goal.   Having someone come up and say.   “The rightness in you and your actions must make God Happy.”

We also need to remember to be cautious around people. Like Noah, people make mistakes and we have a choice to cover them or share their mistakes. God help us all to do the right thing.

Let’s pray. Dear God, bring to our remembrance your word when we are faced with temptation. Help us keep it in our mind and use it to fight off undesirable situations. Let us focus on true, honest, lovely and things of good report. Help us to share one another’s successes and not their failures. Where relationships have been damaged show us how to make peace. Keep a guard over our mouths and help us to do what’s right in your eyes. Amen.

Scripture Reading for the Day: Genesis 9-11 and Matthew 4.

an2g (c) 2015

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Image courtesy of Mister GC at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It’s up! You do NOT want to miss this message! #TakeYourSeat

“Take your Seat”  with John Gray was an awesome message. I hope you were able to view the video online from Lakewood when it was still available.

If you’ve been struggling with anything this message is for you.  John Gray is a recent addition to the Lakewood Home.

His ministry fits uniquely well along with the Legacy of Lakewood Church.    Listen to it and enjoy.   Don’t be surprised if you find yourself encouraged and motivated to take on the things that have been hindering you from Taking your seat.    “Take Your Seat” is one of the best messages I’ve heard this year.     Reminds me of the days of “How Strong is your Want to”  one of my favorite series from the Lakewood library.

Also be sure not to miss the previous Wednesday’s service with Lisa Comes.  Tremendous teaching and the message John Gray refers to throughout his service.   Download and Print out the resources from “Developing a Powerful Prayer Life part II” at http://www.lisacomes.com in the Resources section under Downloads.

John Gray starts speaking at 38:48.  in the Wednesday night worship service.

Be encouraged and get ready to “Take Your Seat” in the life God has provided for you.

***********This video is no longer available on the online archive at Lakewood..  You might check John Gray’s website to see if the title “Take Your Seat” is available.*******

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The Devil is Bad and God is Good. Chrisitanity 101

Check out this series from Charis Christian Center channel on YouTube.   “Secrets to Living Well”

When we have things upside down in our thinking it affects the way we live.   A lot of people today have things mixed up.   Instead of believing that the THIEF comes to kill, steal, and destroy they think it’s God.  That kind of thinking can make you and everyone around you miserable.

It’s time we give up old wives tales in Christianity and start reading and believing the Word of God.    Listen to Pastor Lawson clearly and simply teach the Word of God.

 

 

 

This mornings reading, Ezekiel 45:9 It’s amazing how timely this scripture is.

Ezekiel 45:9

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it (b) suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.

(b) The prophet shows that the heads must be first reformed before any good order can be established among the people.

Things haven’t changed much since Ezekiel’s time.  The Heads must still be reformed before any good order can be established among the people.  So when there is disorder among the people the Heads should wake up and put their Heads together on how to fix a problem the Godly way.     If it’s not Godly the result is chaos.

Coming out of the Closet???

By David Castillo Dominici @Freedigitalphotos.net Wow… I know that probably gave some of you a jolt.

Let’s tone that down a little with Coming out of the Closet about Christ.  Today we’re thinking about our relationship with Christ.

Is the only place that you say “I love Jesus” is at church?   Or how about “Oh I love you Lord” do you ever say that when not at a Bible Study or Christian Fellowship?

If you’re having fellowship with other believers or non-believers can you be yourself?  If you Love the Lord then say so when you have an appropriate opportunity.   Keeping silent about your Love for the Lord will make others question whether you really do Love Him.

You know how things in Life make you think?   Well I had something happen to me the other day that made me start to think about our profession of Love for Christ.    We can easily profess our love for Chocolate, things we find on Pinterest and Facebook. But can we update our status or simply post for no reason that We Love God or We Love Jesus? Or are we too embarrassed?  Are we so concerned what others might think that we cannot give God even a little praise?

The world needs us.  Other Christians need us.    How will they ever know if we truly Love God when we are always silent. Only God knows the heart, the rest of us are just stuck with what we see and hear in others.   It’s time to come out of the Closet about Christ folks. Let others know that you Love God and profess your love for Him by your life and your mouth.

We do want to be wise around other people.  We don’t want to take advantage of a group of friends thinking they are a “captive” audience for your latest “message”.   Or spontaneously interrupt people with a “Jack-out-of-the-box” profession”

But, there is nothing wrong when someone asks  “What’s up with the smiles? Why are you so happy today?”  you could reply,

“Oh, I’m just thankful.  God Loves me and I decided to wear my Love for Him on my face today.”

Since we’re all big on challenges right now.  How about taking the  “Wearing of God’s love on your Face today” challenge?

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Happy Anniversary to my best friend/spouse!

Well tomorrow will mark 21 years of spending my life with my best friend. The nice thing about roller coaster rides is they keep you young and full of life.   There are ups and downs plus the times that take your breath away. A few of you have asked so here Is my top ten list for hitting that 20 year and more mark.

  1. Leave your spouse alone. What drew you to your spouse was their uniqueness. If you try to change them, then what you were attracted to in the first place gets lost in the shuffle.
  2. So you’re right… Does it matter?   Which is more important peace or putting one over on your spouse? Proving you’re right may win the skirmish but the battle you’re losing is lifelong happiness and friendship with your spouse. Forgiveness after a skirmish is a good thing.
  3. Take a nap. We all get tired and when you feel Mr. or Mrs. Cranky pants coming on just tick a lock and go take a nap.
  4. Take your solutions to your spouse and problems to God.   Sometimes there are just things you can’t talk about. Doesn’t mean you have a bad marriage it’s just wiser to take some things to God. It’s much more fun to see a situation change after you’ve prayed about it rather than put pressure on your spouse. Pray for solutions… listen… then do what God says. You might be surprised at the results from just hearing from God on a situation without talking to your spouse.
  5. Find out what makes your spouse feel accepted, affirmed, and appreciated.   It’s different for every person. Sometimes finding out is half of the fun as it changes over time.   My favorite thing to receive is something spontaneous that required a little thought and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Same thing with hubby he likes it when I’ve been paying attention and surprise him with something he’s talked about for this or that.
  6. Alone time… The one thing that gamers have over the rest of us is the ability to have fun alone.   Give your spouse some alone time to play games, go shopping, hunting and fishing, hiking, running, biking etc. Find something that you can do alone that makes you happy, reduces stress and let your spouse do the same.   Just because you think it’s a waste of time doesn’t mean you’re right. (refer to #2 above)
  7. Date Night.   Go out or stay in but have fun just the two of you. Sports games on the Wii can be fun and economical. Or bring home pizza and watch silly movies that make you laugh.   MST3K movies can be funny especially the older ones.   My favorite scene was when 2 Guys in Greek costumes rounded a corner and tapped their spears on the Ground. I think it was Crow who said “Pizza! Pizza!”   We laughed so hard.
  8. Say “no” to others.   With everyone pulling everyone in different directions sometimes you just have to say “no” so the two of you can rest, relax, and refresh.
  9. Be united:   Don’t let your kids or other family members divide you as a couple. Make a decision as a couple and stick with it.   Trying to be a best friend to your kids at your spouse’s expense probably isn’t the wisest decision as kids grow up and move away but your spouse is still there and may not be too happy with you. (refer to #3 above)
  10. Probably the biggest and most important thing is to spend “God Time” together. Praying, reading the Bible, Devotions. Whatever you two can do to grow in God together.    Along with that thought is remember who you committed to on your marriage day.   You committed to God and your spouse. Having faith in God to help when you don’t know what to do is critical. It is much better to turn to God and unload than to unload on your spouse.     People say dumb and mean things when they are mad. Refuse to allow yourself hurtful words that can scar a person for life just for a moment of selfish pleasure. It doesn’t mean you are weak or a pushover if you walk away to pray. It just means you are turning over your situation to a higher authority who really does know all the answers for your situation.

© sgan2g2014cwp

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Have you read God’s Voters Guide?

Many of us will be going to the polls next Tuesday.  There are quite a few issues out there and I would like to encourage a Godly Vote.

Let’s Vote Bible….  Ahhh yes many of you may not know how to do that.  Well look it up on Google “What does the Bible say about _______ ?” and start studying the word so you can know What the Bible says about certain issues.      Here is a weekly 28min broadcast from a ministry that has spent the last 3 weeks discussing this.  Starting on July 14 there are  3 weeks of broadcasts called. “Observing All Things.” after watching this you will know what the Bible says about…

Observing All Things (week one)

Observing All Things (week two)

Observing All Things (week Three)

Now it’s not an endorsement for any political party it’s just a minister plainly explaining what the Bible says without a lot of hoopla and a very dry humor.  He doesn’t dance around, shout, and sell you the latest miracle drug or con you into a “If You will  donate x amount of dollars God will….  He knows God has already done through Jesus Christ everything there is to do.  It doesn’t matter if you send a penny or a million dollars. Jesus has already paid for your miracle, your blessing etc.

We really don’t have a Bible political party because people would have to read it first.

We can either vote for the Bible or against it.  While we are still One Nation Under God it would be nice to vote that way.  God tells us how He would vote in his Voters Guide called “The Bible”

Time to come out of the prayer closet, crawl out from under the prayer shawl and put your praying hands to use at the polls.   The separation of Church and State was not set up so the Church could abandon the Country.  The separation of Church and State was set up to prevent the State from telling the Church what they can or cannot do.  If I hear one more negligent Christian tell me “Oh it’s all in God’s hands I don’t need to vote.”   Hello… Genius  we are His hands and feet here on the earth.   Use your feet to get to the polls and your hands to vote.

Seriously…. please be a good steward in your area and go vote Bible in your neck of the woods.

an2g

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Are We Headed For A Crash? Reflections On The Current State of Evangelical Worship

This is Excellent!

Jamie Brown's avatarWorthily Magnify

1Last week I spent a couple of days attending the National Worship Leader Conference, hosted by Worship Leader Magazine, featuring many well-known speakers and worship leaders. The conference was held about 15 minutes down the road from me, so it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m glad I went.

I met some new people, heard some thought-provoking teaching, enjoyed some good meals and conversations with worship leader friends, and experienced in-person some of the modern worship trends that are becoming the norm in evangelicalism. It was eye-opening in many ways.

Over the last few days I’ve been processing some of what I saw and heard.

Worship Leader Magazine does a fantastic job of putting on a worship conference that will expose the attendees to a wide variety of resources, techniques, workshops, songs, new artists, approaches, teachings, and perspectives. I thought of Mark Twain’s famous quote…

View original post 601 more words

What does your life shout from the Rooftops?

What does your life shout from the rooftops?

I was worshiping along with the song Rooftops by Jesus Culture during my worship time this morning. During the lyrics, “So I shout out your name. From the rooftops I proclaim that I am yours. I am yours!”

That’s when I was impressed with a question. What does your life shout out from the rooftops?

Wow.   What a penetrating question.   Would my life shout out the name of Jesus? Does my outward appearance proclaim that I am a child of God?

Do my actions hinder or help people have a better relationship/view of God?    

I’ve often heard Dr. Jesse Duplantis say “The only Jesus some people will see is the Jesus in you and the Jesus in me.”   What do people see in us? Do they hear us laughing at someone that experienced a bad thing? Do they see us purposely do things to hurt or embarrass others? For example:  “I told her oops I didn’t mean to spill that water all over her but it was so funny to see her reaction.” Or maybe you were mad at someone and you confide in a “friend” that the vase of flowers you accidentally knocked of that desk and broke really wasn’t an accident but you purposely knocked it off just to hurt the person at that desk. What exactly do you think the listener will think of you? Is that action shouting out “I’m a child of God”?   And the unsaved who overhear your conversation with “friends”, do you think your actions will affect their view of God?   What about the people who saw you knock off the vase and then turn around and smile/giggle at your deed.   Do you think that “I’m yours Lord Jesus!” was just shouted from the rooftops?

I’ve often thought about baby Christians who start out full force with a love for God and serving Him. They get around those “older” in the Lord and possibly join a very immature church in spite of its age. What they see and what they hear probably turns their stomach and since they are babies they do not know from the Word who God is.

They view God based on his kids’ actions.

They don’t know that many people who call themselves Christians are no more like Christ than a person sitting in a garage is like a car. So they like other hundreds of people quit church and for all practical purposes quit on God too. Remember, they don’t know who God is and they don’t know the word. All they know is what they see and hear is making them sick and doesn’t seem right. I know that’s hard to hear but the lost and the babes in Christ are seeing a very sick and wicked Church community.   Why don’t we wake up and see the truth too?  The Church as a whole needs a desperate awakening to stop hurting and start helping.

Let’s play “What if?” What if just before we enter heaven we were made to look at a list of all the babes in Christ that decided to turn their back on God and quit serving Him because of something we have said or done? Wouldn’t that be horrible? Can you imagine the pain that would cause knowing that you were the reason why someone quit serving God? Selah!

Each person we encounter in life was designed with a purpose from God in the womb.

What would have happened if John G Lake would have paid any attention to his mentor for years told him that he would never be anything without him? Horrible words from an elder who was respected and trusted. Can you imagine how devastating that would be? Fortunately John G Lake went on to surpass that critic and people are receiving God’s healing though new generations of his ministry today.  As for the critic, well he went down in history as a man who once knew God and performed many miracles then through pride and listening to ungodly voices went insane.   The lesson here is just because somebody is “older” in the Lord doesn’t mean they know what God has in store for you.

Fortunately, today we can drop to our knees thanking God for his forgiveness. We can also pray that messengers be sent across the path of those we have hindered or prevented from serving God to encourage them and restore in them hope.  We can also change our ways and stop being ungodly to those around us.

We are to lift up, encourage, and show the love of Christ.

There is a big difference in telling others how Godly we are and what our life shouts from the rooftops.   How about we become the type of person that others can view (especially the ones closest to us) and say “you know…when I think about such and such their life just screams that they are a child of God and they really show the Love of God to their family and everyone around them.”

Thanks to all the ministries that are trying to help people find God, restoring the saved and bringing the unsaved into a right relationship with Him.   Keep up the good work.

And for those of you that have been hindered and abused by immature Christians, Joyce Meyers has often said that “hurting people hurt people”. Even the people who try the hardest to live a godly life still make mistakes.   Don’t let unforgiveness imprison and stop you from fulfilling what God has planned for you. You are called with a purpose to fulfill. Who knows who you will become.   Be like the John G Lakes of history and ignore those who try to hurt you and go on to become the man or woman God has designed you to be. Just today I saw a tweet from Riley Stephenson that said.

“Obstacles can temporarily detour you, but only you can make you stop.”

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Through Him we have access into this grace