The Prison of Want

The Prison of Want
(adapted)

Come with me to the most populated prison in the world. It’s name is WANT—the prison of want. You’ve seen her prisoners. They want something bigger. Nicer. Faster. Thinner. They want a new job. A new house. A new spouse.  If you feel better when you have more and worse when you have less—you’re in the prison of want. If your happiness comes from something you deposit, drive, drink, or digest, then face it—you’re in the prison of want!

The good news is, you have a visitor. It is the psalmist, David. “I have a secret to tell you,” he whispers, “the secret of satisfaction.” From Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” David has found where discontent goes to die. It’s as if he’s saying, “What I have in God is greater than what I don’t have in this life.”

Oh, that you and I could learn to say the same!

Meditaton for June 14th

Genesis 1:1 - 3

THE CREATION OF THE WORLD

¹ In the a beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was b without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

³ And God said, c "Let there be light," and there was light.

Context: Genesis Chapter 1

The earth was not always the beautiful blue and green orb we inhabit. Initially it was an unformed mass of raw potential–a ghost planet, empty and dark. But God transformed it into this wonderful life-sustaining world. How? By His Spirit and His Word.

Everyday Faith

Based upon Ezra 3:1-3

Of course, Christians no longer make sacrifices like the ones described in Ezra. Instead, Paul calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), humbly serving the body of Christ in all that we do. In the letter to the Corinthians, he reminds us that our "bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God" (1 Cor. 6:19). Our bodies do not belong to us. Our work does not belong to us. Therefore, just as the Israelites did not fear the people around them when they offered their sacrifices, we are not afraid to honor and worship God every day as we go about our work.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: How might God be calling you to be a living sacrifice in your daily activities? If you are in a place where you need encouragement that God is present in your work, think about moments of grace from the past week. If you are tempted to think of your workplace as a paragon of Christian virtue, ask God to give you a humble and honest perspective. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in some ways passages like these about sacrifices and burnt offerings can seem very distant from our world of mobile phones and social media. First of all, we thank you that you are eternal and powerful, just as relevant to the Israelites of Ezra's day as you are to us.

Help us see you clearly in our work today. Forgive us, Lord, when we think more highly of ourselves that we ought to think. Give us an honest perspective of ourselves and our work. Encourage us by revealing yourself in small moments of grace throughout the day. May we pray today without ceasing and so be aware of your presence. Amen.

borrowed from "The Higher Calling"

You Can Know God's Will??????

One of the most common statements I hear from fellow Christians is “How do I know what God’s will is for my life?” Knowing God’s will would seem to be some elusive, unachievable Goal that only prophets, pastors, saints, and “other people” can attain. But that’s simply not true.

Finding God’s Will

Many people know God’s will for their life. For many “normal” people like you and me, it’s crystal clear. For some, it’s a feeling or impression they get and while maybe not perfectly clear, the general outline of that will is still discernible.

By reading the Bible, God’s general will for your life should become clear enough: Love God and love others.

Then there are the rest of us that want to know God’s will, but haven’t got a clue what that will might be. My general answer to this “how do I?” question is to read the Bible. By reading the Bible, God’s general will for your life should become clear enough: Love God and love others.

But what about God’s specific will for each and every one of us? How can that be known? The answer is the same: Read the Bible. Seek after God and His ways, and over time God will make it crystal clear what his will is for you….if you are willing to accept it.

But here is the challenge and the opportunity. We are often our own worst enemy when it comes to knowing God’s will. Just like non-Christians, we can be so wrapped up in the pleasures of this world and the desires of our flesh that God’s will becomes hidden in a consuming fog. We quite literally keep God pushed just far away enough that his voice is too faint to hear.

Live for Him First

So, what is the antidote to this problem of not knowing God’s will? Romans 12:1-2 has the answer.

Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Have you offered your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God? Do you worship God by living a life holy and pleasing to Him?

Do you still conform to the pattern of this world? In other words, do you give in constantly to the desires of your flesh? Do you live only for yourself and your own happiness? Do you think primarily about yourself?

God’s promise in Romans 12:1-2 is that if you will FIRST start living a life holy and pleasing to Him (as an act of true worship), and you will renew your mind by no longer conforming to the pattern and deceitfulness of this world, THEN you will be able to hear and understand what God’s will is for your life.

We can’t expect God to give us His good, pleasing, and perfect will, if we are not ready to reject fleshly desires and the ways of this world. We must go first.

We can’t expect God to give us His good, pleasing, and perfect will, if we are not ready to reject fleshly desires and the ways of this world. We must go first.

So, how do you know God’s will for your life? Start living a life holy and pleasing to God (i.e. prepare yourself to be used by God) and then he will show you how He plans to use you.

When you finally see the light of God’s will shining in your life, you may be surprised to find that he has been using you to accomplish His will all along.

--author Brad White

Sticks and Stones may Break my Bones.....Really, is that a necessary faith-focused outlook?

Blog I like, borrowed from another source.  Enjoy and consider the implication of this blog in your life, faith, and belief in Jesus.

“My aim is to know him [Jesus], to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10, 11

Importance of the resurrection (Photo credit: Martin LaBar)

I hope that you all said this in prayer this morning. As Christians we are to share in the sufferings of Jesus. What does that mean to me and you? These are just three things you may have to suffer through.

• Jesus suffered ridicule on many occasions for who He spent time with. Don’t be afraid to hang out with the vilest of sinners; Jesus did. But, make sure you are grounded in the faith of God beforehand so you won’t fall into sin. This is what we are called to do. Sinners may never know about the truth of God’s love unless you go to their world and show them.

• Jesus also suffered physical harm. We can expect the same thing. It may or may not happen but don’t be surprise if some bully wants to assault you for believing and following Jesus.

• Jesus didn’t allow the pleasures of this world to control Him. This is by far the hardest thing we face. We have entertainment all around us. Do we let it control us or do we control it? Movies, TV shows, Internet blogs, lust, our own selfish desires all distract us from doing God’s will. This is by far the most suffering we will face—leaving behind worldly desires and accomplishments. Our kingdom is in heaven where we willwalk the streets of gold.

I want to attain the resurrection from the dead and go into eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is my prayer today. I want to be like Jesus through the good and the bad. Sticks and stones will hurt. People’s words will hurt. But Jesus will make it all right!

Be careful little mouth what you say.......

Sticks and stones will break your bones… by thecarpentersministry

"My aim is to know him [Jesus], to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:10, 11

Importance of the resurrection (Photo credit: Martin LaBar)

I hope that you all said this in prayer this morning. As Christians we are to share in the sufferings of Jesus. What does that mean to me and you? These are just three things you may have to suffer through.

• Jesus suffered ridicule on many occasions for who He spent time with. Don't be afraid to hang out with the vilest of sinners; Jesus did. But, make sure you are grounded in the faith of God beforehand so you won't fall into sin. This is what we are called to do. Sinners may never know about the truth of God's love unless you go to their world and show them.

• Jesus also suffered physical harm. We can expect the same thing. It may or may not happen but don't be surprise if some bully wants to assault you for believing and following Jesus.

• Jesus didn't allow the pleasures of this world to control Him. This is by far the hardest thing we face. We have entertainment all around us. Do we let it control us or do we control it? Movies, TV shows, Internet blogs, lust, our own selfish desires all distract us from doing God's will. This is by far the most suffering we will face—leaving behind worldly desires and accomplishments. Our kingdom is in heaven where we will walk the streets of gold.

I want to attain the resurrection from the dead and go into eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is my prayer today. I want to be like Jesus through the good and the bad. Sticks and stones will hurt. People's words will hurt. But Jesus will make it all right!

Holy Holy Holy | Devotion for May 27th

I show myself holy

I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. Ezekiel 36:23

Thought

God can and will use us even though we are not worthy vessels for him to use. Scripture gives us many examples of people God used who did not come up to his moral and holy requirements -- for example, think a little about Samson or most of the other Judges! God will be revealed as the holy, mighty, and awesome God that he is. So let's not be unwilling tools in his hands. Instead, let's offer ourselves to him for his service and his glory.

Prayer

Father, make me pure and holy, not just by your grace, but also in my actions, words, and thoughts. Create a clean heart in me and renew a righteous spirit in me by the power of your Holy Spirit. May my life be a holy sacrifice of praise to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayers for Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY.....the following says it all!!!!!!  Prayers and Blessings, LBC