Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Evangelism, Life Inspiration

Who Says Water and Electricity Don’t Mix?

Well. Actually from an earthly standard they don’t. But from a spiritual vantage point, they not only mix, the experience is beyond amazing!

A few weeks ago Dr. Mickey Carter preached at our church, on the subject of the light that God shines before us; and how that light grows as we we grow, and the distance before us is further as we are obedient and able to handle what it’s shining on. Such a good message! This morning I find myself studying ligtht once more in the book of Psalm 36.Twelve little verses. So much wisdom.

This earth is filled with people searching for what the child of God has. They’re missing it and we’re not doing our do diligence to give evidence of what we have within us. Our bulbs are not burnt out, they simply have a loose connection and a little water.

The Dark Side

1The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

The last part of verse 4 could sum up most of the people I know who don’t know God. Now, I certainly know my share of people who have wicked tongues and wicked ways. But the bulk of the unsaved people I know are people who are “in a way that is not good, he (they) aborreth not evil.”

They haven’t learned to hate the very thing that makes them miserable. Sin.     

I know this because it hasn’t been so long ago that I was one of them. I wasn’t a wicked person, devising evil plots for personal gain. I was a good person trying to make the world a better place. The problem was, I needed to start with myself before I tried to fix the world around me. Case in point. I was on every civic minded board I could be on. I was highly sought after to be on those boards because I was a worker! I thought that by serving my community I could fulfill that desire within me to help. There was indeed a little light shining within my heart that always gave me a desire to help people. But my yearning was never completely fulfilled because it wasn’t being filled with what the Creator intended it to be filled with.

I’m not saying that serving on civic minded boards is wrong. We need to be a part of our community, but our primary focus should always shine the light toward the Creator. Not the created. It’s when we glorify ourselves or others that the light short circuits. It’s not attached to the source of power.

In The Shadows

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Jesus said in Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not.”

The Jews had completely missed their promised Messiah because they were not focusing the glory on the Lord, but rather through works, they sought to gain glory for themselves. All Jesus wanted to do was love and protect them, as a mother hen would her chicks, but they wanted to stay in the spotlight. And so they’re solution was to rid themselves of the Light that shone so much brighter.

Good people don’t always seek the glory. Many seek the thrill of helping, which in reality is seeking the glory. That adrenaline rush that comes from helping or “saving” someone is addictive. And it can overrule allowing God’s control or protection. I was that person. I was so focused on helping others, that I wouldn’t allow myself to realize I was the one who needed saving.

The Light!

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

When life got so miserable out from under the wings of Christ, and I could see nothing but my discontent and discouraging world, God sent a light to show me a pathway to the shadow of His wings. That light was a Preacher who used the water of the Word. And when that water, mixed with that light…. Glory!!!! Something amazing happened! Once I received the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, by accepting the fact that I could save no one and that He could save everyone, there was more light, and more direction to what my God given purpose in life was. To shine the light so that someone else could see their way to the safety and peace of being under the shadow of His wings.

And just like brother Mickey said, when I start down a path for the Lord, He shine the light far into the distance and I see that there is amazing things ahead.

I hope you’ve experienced that light. If not, follow the link on my main page to “the plan of Salvation.” And please! Let me know if this has encouraged you. Comment in the comment section and share my post on social media. I love you, but more important than my love is the Love of Jesus Christ!

Posted in Life Inspiration

Don’t Turn Down This Blessing

chick I Am 3

Do you want a blessing? I can’t imagine you saying no. In the gospel of John, six time Jesus gives us an “I Am” message so that we may know Who He is. You may say, but I know Who He is, He is God. He is Lord of my life, He is the reason I exist. And that’s all true. But if you’re like me you look over these “I Am” verses and what they mean to you as you walk with Him, Who you know.

John 6:35

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

The Bread and Water

Sounds like prison food does it not? Well, the truth of the matter is there are days I feel like I’m in a prison of sorts. The world around me is filled with some of the most vile and wicked people and ideas and my mind cannot fathom why they are so. I long for purity, even in my own mind that can get drug into the cesspool of life. Can you identify? Maybe not. But the purity of the Bread and Water that Christ affords is just what I need. No frills. Just the plain and simple truth. God is still in control and will provide my every need – physically – spiritually – and emotionally. Bread and Water will be just fine.

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Light

As a child I was afraid of the darkness, as an adult I’m not real brave in it. We know that it’s not the darkness necessarily that we’re afraid of, but what might be in it. By the same token the unknown of life is just as scary when we’re seeking direction, or we’ve got a road ahead of us that we’ve never traveled; and we’re pretty sure it’s going to be rough. How awesome to know that every step on the path before us will have a light. It may not appear until we’ve moved our foot, but it’s there and even in the darkest of times our world is illuminated by the God who created the universe. If He can speak light into a void of nothing, He can certainly cast it forth in our hour of need. Do you need direction today? Move your foot and then look for the light!

The Door

John 10:9

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

In my testimony of “that door” I tell the story of the day I opened that door and ask Jesus in. It’s an amazing story (at least to me) because it’s mine! That day my house became His house. Bought and paid for! I could go out into the world, or I could just stay in, but either way I enjoyed His company.

The Shepherd

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The house that was bought and paid for was paid for by the blood of the Lamb. He Who created the lambs, and at one time required their sacrifice for atonement of sin became the Lamb of God Who was the final sacrifice needed. He is the Shepherd because He has been the lamb. He knows everything we go through because He came to earth and experienced it for Himself. And then in the final moments of His life, with His flesh fighting against Him, He won the battle for us to have eternal life with Him. No matter what you’re going through today, He knows all about it and wants to take care of it. Let Him.

The Resurrection

John 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Glory!!! To have that knowledge will get you through the bleakest of times. When my Dad passed away in 2003 I had no idea of the peace that would flood my soul in those dark hours. To know that my Dad was only temporarily gone from my presence made that pain subside and turn to hope. The hope that we all who know Jesus have and that hope is that we’ll be joined together in Heaven with Him. But not only that hope… the hope of life here. Before knowing Christ we are dead inside, but when we accept Him there is a new man that arises within us that walks and talks differently. The new man has a new purpose and that’s to show others the hope he/she has found in Jesus Christ!!!

The Way, Truth, and Life

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I remember the BC days, before Christ entered my life. I was the walking dead. I had no idea which direction I should go in life, the truth was vague at best and my life was without meaning. Sound dramatic? It was dramatic. My life looked great on the outside, but inwardly I was in turmoil. I needed to know the way, the truth and the life that God had for me. But I didn’t know how to find it. Not even in the church I attended. But God sent someone my way to show me the Way, the Truth and the Life. Perhaps I’m that person for you today, or perhaps someone else was. If you know Jesus, it’s your turn to tell someone else.

The Vine

John 15:1

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

The Vine. That life giving stem for which the fruit thrives and survives and God Himself is the husbandman. Our Father is our Farmer!!! He gets in there and digs the impurities out of our soil (soul) and then He fertilizes us with the richness of His Word that causes us to grow and produce fruit ourselves. That fruit then is our responsibility to show them how to continue clinging to the True Vine so that they too can produce fruit and just imagine a vineyard that goes for a million miles and that’s what Heaven is going to look like if we help God farm the land.

I love the “I Am’s!” God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They stir my soul. I hope they stirred yours today too.