Little Things

Tiny yellow flowers. But each one is exquisitely made for our enjoyment by our Father in heaven, if we take the time and trouble to look at them.

Luke 19:17

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Song of Solomon 2:15
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

Little things, good and bad, determine big things in our lives.

Jesus doesn't ask if you built a church, witnessed to millions, or healed all those in a hospital. Instead, he asked - did you give someone a drink of water, clothe the naked stranger, visited the sick or those in prison.

Matt ⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

As for the bad side of small things, how many times have you been stressed and angered by a series of little things. Like gnats, they pick at you until you explode over nothing.

Moral - at the first sign of a small pest, go to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee. Ignore them and they multiply into a full blown melt down.

Debt is a good example. We can see the big expenses - new tires, hospital bills, but what about the little costs. An expensive coffee a day adds up to $80 a month. Add a few more small things and we're talking big money.

Savings work the same way. Most won't go to the trouble to pick up a penny from the street. Put a $1 a day in savings and that's $365 a year.

Be mindful of small things. They add up.

Rejoice!

Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Psalm 105:3
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Rejoice, always. Our hearts can rejoice at all times, because HE lives and we live in Him. Joy is not based on the circumstances of the world, but on the reality of eternal life and abundant life in Jesus.

When this earthly life gets you down, look up! It will not always be so. Our home is in heaven with our heavenly Father where there are no tears or sorrow but joy everlasting. Look up and rejoice!

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Eternal Life

1 Peter 1:24-25

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

John 3:15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Flowers shoot up, display their glory, and fade away. But not God's word or His people. Through Jesus, God promises us eternal life.

The word eternal means (From http://www.blueletterbible.org)

1) without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be

2) without beginning

3) without end, never to cease, everlasting

Amazing to realize that God is eternal, but in Him so are we.

Ephesians 1:4-5 ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Embrace the Lord and the truth of His Word. Consider that you are eternal in Christ. And live this life here on earth with eternity in mind.

Shine, it's your day!

Numbers 6:25
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 13:43
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Someone didn't tell these little sunshine flowers that we have been in a drought, that fall is coming, that they have no reason to shine.

Like these golden treasures, as Christians, we need to know that this is our time to shine. God is good, loves us, and has good plans for our lives.

Don't give in to the way the circumstances appear. Take hold of the truth. Remember that God is in control. And SHINE.

Walk in the spirit, shining His light into the darkness.

WE win!

Washing of the Word

Just as rain washes the air and brings relief to dry ground, so, too, does the Word of God refresh our dry and thirsty souls.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

The Word of God gives us protection. Memorize verses to use in times of trouble.

Luke 4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

The Word of God is necessary for life. Just as food nourishes the flesh, the Word of God nourishes our souls.

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Our only weapon against the enemy is the Word of God - our sword.

Eat of the Word of God, drink in the life-giving words of our Lord, and sharpen the sword to combat the lies of the enemy.

Frame ~~ of mind.

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

In the Hebrews, the word for mind is yetser. And it means framework in intellect or form.

Mark 12:30
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Here the word mind in the Greek means understanding, feeling, desire.

Luke 12:29
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

In this verse, the word, mind, in the Greek means to put out to the deep as in waves of an unruly sea.

Acts 20:19
Serving the LORD with all humility of mind,...

Here the Greek word used for mind means having a deep sense of one's littleness, humility.

Every thought is viewed from one frame or another. We can be of humble mind, carnal mind, or a renewed mind. And the world around us will appear different when viewed through these different frames.

Every thought is seen through a frame of our mind.

2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

How do you see your circumstances? Your loved ones? Your enemies? Yourself?

Wash yourself with the Word of God and renew your mind. It's a choice.

Fear of the Lord

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Isaiah 33:6
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Acts 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

AS much as we might not want to believe these verses, they are truth. It is healthy to fear the Lord. After all, He is the Creator of all.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

So, how do we reconcile the above verse with all the others telling us to fear?

The answer is SIN. Although as Christians, Jesus sacrifice paid for our sins, we are still in this world with the consequences of sin. Sin is separation from God. We fear God, and need to fear God, because the world we live in is full of sin and the deeds and temptations of sin.

The first place fear, being afraid, is counted in the Bible is after the fall. Adam was afraid of God because Adam had lost his right standing - righteousness- with God.

Genesis 3:10
And (Adam) he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

A healthy dose of the fear of the Lord helps keep us from going toward sin. The closer we walk with the Lord, the more this fear of the Lord will move into the holy of understanding.

1 John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Revere God, walk in His love, and rejoice for HE overcame the world.

What to do?

Isaiah 58:8
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

AS Christians, we often hear much about what to do. The you need to do this and that list. Often my ears go deaf and my mouth goes blah blah blah.

Yikes! This has become a season of repentance.

I encourage everyone to read Isaiah 58. The whole chapter - only a mere 14 verses. IF you want to know what the Lord would have us do, read on. Truly eye opening.

Isaiah 58

¹Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

²Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

³Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

⁴Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

⁵Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

^***6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

^***7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

⁸Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

⁹Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

^***10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:

¹¹And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

¹²And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

^***13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

¹⁴Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Out of Whack!

2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

In this day of Internet, radio, TV - we are constantly being blasted with words, doctrine, opinions.

How easy it is to fall into deception. The enemies greatest strategy is to use truth with a twist of lie.

The other day, my friend and I were watching Oprah's life classes. My spirit warned -tilt, tilt, error, error. Although parts of what she and her guests said 'sounded good' my internal truth detector was flashing warning signs.

After that show, we watched Joyce Meyer and as she spoke the Word of God, truth washed over me. My spirit said a mighty 'ah' as truth was spoken into me.

Now that doesn't mean that Joyce Meyer is it. But rather the truth of the Word. Be careful what you watch and listen to. And listen to the spirit inside you. IF you are a born again believer, God has equipped you with His Spirit that will guide and teach you.

Psalm 40:8

“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”

God has given us His Holy Spirit in our hearts to keep us balanced and on the right track. IF your heart gives you a warning, heed it. You do not have to know why, or explain, or defend it. These are treacherous days. You cannot go on your reasoning only. But listen to the Spirit, the law within your heart, that will guide you into truth. And it must always line up with truth of His Word.

Take Heart! Our God Reigns!

Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Take heart! Our God is above the things of the earth. HE is not ruled by our circumstances. No, HE rules over them.

Though the world crashes about us, we do not need to fear, for the Lord is mighty and greater than any problem that comes against us.

Seek Him. Trust Him. And Learn of Him.

Jesus moved the immovable stone of sin from our lives. The angels rolled away hopelessness and the Son of God walked out of the tomb of death alive forevermore. And we who believe came with Him.

We are not without hope. For Jesus overcame the world and its troubles. And through Him we also walk in His glorious light.

Take Heart! Because HE lives, so do we. And nothing is too hard for our God!

Decision Time

Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Proverbs 14:25
A true witness delivereth souls:...

The world is heading toward a wall of decision. All people are faced with the eternal question, What Next?

Really should be Where Next. There are only two destinations after life on this planet.

Good News - you get to choose.

Bad News - if you don't choose wisely, it's hell.

As believers, we need to be aware that while we are secure with the eternal life Jesus provides for us, we are to extend the invitation HE gave us to others. His desire is that none should perish.

Know the Word. Live the Word. And Share the Word. So that others may choose to believe Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. That Jesus was crucified for our sins and rose again from the dead. That HE is coming again.

Be Ready.

Wait

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Wait!

We don't like that word do we? It goes against our 'I want it now' attitude.

When things are going crazy, economies failing, jobs being lost, houses foreclosed on, our first reaction is to run around and try to fix things.

But the Word of God explains to us what to do. Gives us wisdom not of this world.

If your heart is failing, life is out of control, STOP and Wait on the Lord.

Jesus did. See how often He went away by himself to pray and wait on the Father. If Jesus needed to get away and wait on the Lord, how much more do we.

The world and it's lies batter us 24/7. WE need to wait on the Lord and know that HE promises to strengthen our hearts.

Be of good courage. Wait on the Lord. And let your heart be strengthened.

Heard any Secrets Lately?

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Psalm 25:14

What secret? In Hebrew, the word used here is cowd and conveys the meaning of friends sitting together on a couch conversing. Counsel with the Most High.

How cool is that? Fear nothing but God in His infinite wisdom, knowing that HE knows all things. And yet, as we exalt Him, HE desires to sit with us and give us counsel.

With the Lord, life is an adventure of joy. HE is the wind in my sails. The life in my heart. The breath in my laughter.

HE leads me on. I don't have to know where and when I am going. Just to sit and talk with my Father in heaven and let Him give me counsel.

Sit with the Lord today and listen carefully to His secrets.

Signs

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Wouldn't it be nice if God nailed a sign in front of us when we were going astray?

Good news! He sent the Holy Spirit to us. God in us, teaching and guiding us. How cool is that?

So why is it we don't get the message?

• Noise.
• Lack of developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
• Disobedience.

Jesus got alone, leaving the others and noise, so He could commune with the Father.

I don't do this nearly enough. Get away, leave the stuff behind, and get quiet before the Lord. Think how quiet your house sounds when the electricity goes off. We don't recognize how the noise of the world infiltrates our lives. This helps develop that relationship. The Holy Spirit is often that still small voice from the midst of you. He can be warning of danger or simply letting you know yes you do need milk from the store. Learn to recognize that voice and act on it.

Don't grieve the Holy Spirit. Don't ignore Him. Hear and obey.

The signs are there - in fact, in you if you but listen.

Discern His voice and follow Him and He will lead you in paths of righteousness.

The Narrow Way

Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

There are many ways and paths, but only one will bring life. We are inundated with knowledge. Books abound, screaming that they know the 'way' and for $15 dollars you can too.

TV shows, radio shows, magazines, and of course the Internet are full of the way we should go.

The good news - people are searching

The bad news - many are looking in all the wrong places. Listening to those who tickle their ears, entertain, and feed them what they want to hear.

2 Timothy 4:3 NASB

³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Be strong in the Lord. Hide the Word deep in your heart.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

The world is watching us. The lost are searching for the narrow way. Be the light that shines on the truth and lead many to life.

The world is dying to see the Truth.

Standing Out

Exodus 19:5
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Standing out. Setting oneself aside. Daring to be different. A peculiar people.

It's not easy to come away from the masses. To be a red tree among the green. Once you do, you become an instant target for those who hate God.

But we are called to follow Him not the crowd. Listen for His voice and stand out. Be the light that those in darkness need to see.

Will it cost? Yes, friends may be lost, jobs may be lost, wealth may be lost, even lives will be lost.

But consider the glory. Consider that the Great I AM knows you and will reward you. That we are His vessels of honor to be used by Him to help gather in the great harvest.

What is a soul worth?

Stand out. Be Peculiar. Be Strong in the Lord.

Peace

Psalm 72:3
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

Peace. People hunger for peace. Nations strive for peace. Why is it so elusive?

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Apart from the Lord, there is no peace. The less our trust in the Lord, the less our Peace.

John 14:27
Jesus said - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid

The peace Jesus leaves us is the fullness of a life without fear - if we keep our mind stayed on Him and trust him.

The opposite of peace is not war - but fear which leads to worry, anger, hate. and ultimately separation from God.

Peace from the Lord calms the heart, allows us to rise above the circumstances of life, and overcome the enemy who desires to stir up strife among the brethren.

Keep your mind on the Lord, Trust him, and walk in Peace.

Paths

Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 119:35
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

How often do I wander from the path? Ask for direction, when I know what to do? Doubt when the way looks unsure?

HE is the answer of course. The Father sent Jesus to show us the Way. The Father and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. And we have the Word of God in us and written in the Bible if we doubt.

On a trip, we would have a GPS or map or both.

As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit as our GPS. When we are tempted to divert from the straight and narrow, the Voice within us pricks our hearts. IF we listen are attentive or even obedient is our choice.

If we are wise, we turn and go back to the path the Lord has for us. If unwise, we travel down the wrong road, wasting our time or worse.

We also have the map, the Bible. The road map to our lives. What are God's promises? What does He say? Learn to read His map for your pathway travels.

We are not in the dark. We may not see to the end, but we have His Word that lightens our path. We have His promises to see us through.

Step out on the path and look neither to the left or right but to our Father in Heaven, rejoicing that He has provided for us. He has chosen our path and will direct us on our journey.

Listening.

“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” Proverbs 19:20-21

A friend and I are on a little adventure trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Our plan - to seek God.

Before dinner we excitedly came upon a revelation about nets. And our plan was to have a Bible study.

However, God had other plans. HE pointed out areas that were in need of repentance. Lovingly, but pointedly, HE instructed us that we may be wise.

How exciting that I was going to meet with God, and all the time, HE had it planned to meet me. God is so good.

Today, my plan is to seek out, notice, and write down God's love prints. Things I can be grateful for. A walk in Grace.

Let you know tomorrow, what God's plan turned out to be.

Fading Flowers and Everlasting Glory

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Life is crazy. Full of joy and sorrow, direction and wandering, young and then old. Nothing is sure but change.

Like flowers, we can bloom. And like flowers, we can fail and fall aside.

But we are more than flowers. We are made in His image. If we choose, we can live unto the Lord. We can bloom in a drought, sing through the sorrow, rise to the challenge of a beaten world. Through Him we overcome. And knowing Jesus, we know that this is definitely not all there is.

Now, while it is still day, store up treasures that will not rust or be stolen. Live for Him, listening and obeying His Will. And when we leave this world, we can walk on streets of gold and be surprised at the treasures He stored for us.

Set your minds and hearts above and you will never fade away.

John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Quench theThirst

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” Psalm 63:1

Nehemiah 9:15
... and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, ...

We live in a dry and thirsty land. A land where forces are attempting to quench the desire for God.

But they will fail. The Lord has blessed this land. There are many who know the truth and will not bow to the ungodly.

And in this time of dryness, it is imperative that we who know the truth, seek the Lord with all our hearts, lean not unto our own understanding, and drink long and freely from the Holy Spirit.

By His stripes we are healed, by His love are we saved, and by our testimony others will come to know Jesus.

Drink from the well of life. Satisfy the empty holes in your hearts and fill them with His Word. And Proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Drink!

CHANGE

“Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” Isaiah 26:4

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Two things are certain - change is inevitable and the Lord is unchanging.

Yes, I tinkered with the blog and now it is different. Couldn't get back to what it was so onward with what is.

How comforting to know that my Lord does not change. That I can count on His love, strength, provision, promises today, yesterday, and forever.

He is the constant in this ever-changing world. Our anchor in the storm, our provision in the famine, our light in the darkness. HE is our life.

Colossians 3:4
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Now that is one change I can hardly wait for.