Recognizing His Presence






Recognizing God’s Presence

Matthew 13:54-55,57 (New King James Version)

54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? 57 So they were offended at Him.



How could Jesus’ own townspeople not see who He was? He had already performed miracles and healings, and taught such insightful things about the law of Moses; how could they not see Who He was?



Matthew 13:58
“Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

They had such low expectancy that they missed out on the miracles that they could have received had they believed in Him.


“Lord open up my eyes that I may know when you are present; Don’t let me miss the miracles that you want to do. Lord I believe, please help my unbelief.”

Walking By Faith

Walking by faith

Do you feel burdened? Do you feel that you have slipped away from God’s grace? Have you ever felt that God has left you, or don’t care about you anymore?

These are times when you have to exercise your faith. “Faith is the evidence of things not seen! (Heb11:1) At times when we feel that God has left us and is turning a deaf ear to our prayers, we either turn away from God’s grace or begin, by faith, to believe what He has said; “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”(Heb 13:5)

God wants us to walk by faith, faith in Him and His promises. God has made us with the capacity to live by the principles of His word; so, soak yourself in His word: Make a decision right now to walk by what the Word says and not what you feel, think or see. That’s walking by faith; God loves it and so will you.

“For we walk by faith and not by sight. (2Cor.5:7)

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him

Believe God

Believe God


Gal.3:16-18; Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed, who is Christ.18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.



Have you ever studied about the faith and blessings of Abram?

What kind of faith did Abram have? The Bible says, “he believed God”! What does that mean? he believed God?

Evidently it means more than just knowing that He exists, even though it includes that.

He must have also believed that what God said was true. He stood on God’s promises regardless of what he thought, or what happened, he still believed that what God said was true.

Sounds scary to some of us, doesn’t it? Like stepping out on a limb with nothing to hold the limb except a promise.

God told Abram to leave everything he had and go on a journey and didn’t even tell him where to go!

What did Abram do? He went! No questions recorded.

Is it any wonder that God counted it as righteousness to him.

Even Moses gave God a hard time when He told him to go to Egypt; at least he knew where God wanted him to go, Abraham didn’t even know that!

No wonder God gave Abram so many great promises; i.e.





Gen.12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran



God has given us the same promises as He did Abraham; If we believe God as Abraham did.



Gal. 3:26,27,29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Do you have an attitude?

Do you have an attitude?


Attitudes make the difference in who we are; what we do; how we react to life, and others.

Attitudes cause us to do the things we do; enjoy the things we do and also dislike the things we do.

You know you need to exercise but because of the attitude you have about exercise you make excuses for why you don’t exercise. It is too hard to go to the gym and spend the time and money to exercise. If your attitude was different you would just get up a little earlier and take a good long walk, that’s supposed to be the best exercise you can do.

We are all on the same journey through life, we can’t control what happens to us, but you can decide how we will respond to it.

Choosing to look at problems as opportunities will put you in an entirely different frame of mind, you will start looking for the opportunities instead of the way out.

Just knowing that the promises of God are all positive and true is just the beginning; you have change your attitude and fill your mind with the scriptures, meditate on them until they take root and grow within you. When you do this the word becomes a part of you and can guide and direct you in all your attitudes. You will begin to look up instead of down when things happens to you.

Don't lose heart

Don’t lose heart


Psalm 94:14-15

14 “ For the LORD will not cast off His people,

Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

15 But judgment will return to righteousness,

And all the upright in heart will follow it.”

Sometimes it seems like we are dragged down by life so low, that we can’t see any way out.

When we get to this place the way out is always through the Word of God.

During my lifetime I have been in this pit more times than I can remember; yet always, and, every time, being reminded that God will get us out, through His word has always been the way out.

Why is it that we try every conceivable way we can think of before we turn to God and His word?

I guess it’s because we have an inate desire inside us to do it our self.

So, today, I am reminding anyone who is in the pits to turn to the word and save yourself some sorrow.

Knowing God's voice

Knowing God’s voice


We all know that God tells us that obedience to His word is more important than sacrifice, or, even the word itself; The word of God says, “Not everyone who hears the word will enter the Kingdom of God, but the ones who DO it.



21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven



1 Corinthians 14:10 ) “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.”

God’s language is spiritual, so we must hear it with our spirits.

When Abraham heard God tell him to leave his family and land, He didn’t even tell him where he would be going.(Gen 12) Abraham didn’t have anyone to council him about this; It was crucial that he know that it was God speaking and not just his own thoughts.

Relationship is the key:!

Have you ever had the phone to ring and when you picked up the receiver it was someone from miles and miles away, but you knew immediately who it was? You had such a relationship with the person that no one could have fooled you.

That’s how our relationship must be with God.

Abraham had this kind of relationship with God. He knew immediately that it was God; and also; that he could “trust” the voice enough to obey it without question.

This kind of relationship doesn’t come in a day, it is developed over a long time of communication.
We develope this relationship by spending time every day with Him.

Worship

Worship


Ever since time and creation began, human beings have searched for something or someone to worship.

Why?

Because when God created us He created us with a need in our heart to worship.

People have made their own gods to worship, such as; money, drugs, alcohol, sex; none of these can satisfy the longing that is in us., because the need is spiritual.

Rich men commit suicide; drugs cause addiction that destroys them; so does alcohol. Illicit sex causes diseases that ravage our bodies, or a feeling of guilt that holds us in bondage.

So how do we fulfill the need for worship?

There is a God in heaven who has the answer.

Sometimes it’s hard to fathom that He would go to the extreme for us by coming to earth to show Himself.

How blessed we are that we have a God who yearns to have relationship with His creation.

You see we are made in His image, made for fellowship with Him. He wants an intimate relationship with us. He has made it possible for man to have His (Gods) spirit living with him 24-7.

A song says, “Only Jesus can satisfy the soul.” The soul is the center of our being; it’s where the longing and need for worship come from, .

God has a plan for us,(Jeremiah 29:11) says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Some people have said that “God will get you, if you do this or that.” God is not out to get you; He wants only your good.

Some people think that God wants to stop you from having fun; Again that’s not true. Any time God says “thou shall not” it is to keep us from doing something that He knows in the future will bring hurt to us.

So, why not Worship the only one who loves us enough to die for us; He alone can fill the longing in our soul for Worship.

staying focused #3of 3

There’s a story about a couple who decided to build a farm. Then they began to argue. The wife wanted to build the house first. The husband wanted to build the barn first to house the animals. They went back and forth until finally the man said, “Look, we have to build the barn first - because the barn will enable us to build the house, the garage, the silo, the kids’ swing set, and everything else!” When you focus on putting first things first, everything else is more likely to fall into place.




Anthony Campolo says, “What you commit yourself to, will change what you are and make you into a completely different person. The future conditions you, not the past.

What you commit yourself to become, determines what you are - more than anything that ever happened to you yesterday.



Therefore, I ask you, ‘What are your commitments? Where are you going? What are you going to be?

Show me somebody who hasn’t decided, and I’ll show you somebody who has no identity, no personality, no direction.’”



Focusing on weaknesses instead of strengths is like having a handful of coins, a few made of gold, the rest of tarnished copper, and setting aside the gold coins to spend your time shining the copper ones in hopes of making them more valuable. No matter how long you spend, they’ll never be worth what the gold ones are. So, stay focused on your God-given strengths!

HAVING A STEADFAST PURPOSe
When your life has a steadfast purpose you can bear almost anything. Without it, nothing is bearable.
Isaiah complained, (Is.49:4) “I have labored to no purpose, I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.”(niv)
    Dr. Bernie Siegel found that he could predict which of his cancer patients were most likely to survive; by asking them, “do you want to live to be 100 years old?” Those with a deep sense of purpose who answered “YES” were the ones most likely to survive.

“Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat“. Mark 6:31 (NLT)
   Jesus experienced enormous stress and pressure, yet it didn’t seem to disturb his peace of mind. In spite of opposition, constant demands, and little privacy, his life reflected a calm sense of balance.
What was his secret?
Identification – Know who you are (John 8:12) “I m the light of the world.”
Eighteen times Jesus publicly defined himself. There was no doubt in his mind as to who he was. If you are unsure of your identity, you’ll allow others to pressure you into their molds. Trying to be someone you’re not causes stress!
 Know who you want to please (John 5:30)
  You can’t please everyone. Even God can’t! Just about the time you get “Crowd A” happy, then “Crowd B” will be upset with you.

Jesus never let the fear of rejection manipulate him. No one can pressure you without your permission.
Jesus said, “I know where I came from and where I am going.”   (Luke 4:42-44) He had purpose, "I must preach the gospel."

You can’t chase two rabbits at the same time! Jesus knew how to handle interruptions without being distracted from his primary goal.
We get tense when we feel it all depends on us. Jesus enlisted twelve disciples. Don’t allow perfectionism, or the fear that others may do a better job, to keep you from involving others in the task.
Make a habit of prayer (Mark 1:35)
No matter how busy Jesus got, he found time to get alone to pray everyday. A daily quiet time is a great stress decompression chamber. Use this time to talk to God about your pressures and problems, evaluate your priorities, and discover the rules for successful living by reading the Bible.
Take time to enjoy life (Mark 6:30-31)
Balance is the key to stress management. Work must be balanced with fun and worship.

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Staying Focused #2

Henry David Thoreau asked, “Do you ever hear of a man who had striven all his life faithfully and singly toward an object, and in no measure obtained it? {NEVER} If a man constantly aspires, is he not elevated?” Just by striving to become better than you are, you become elevated - even if you don’t accomplish what you desire, and even if others don’t step aside for you. By trusting God and aiming higher, you move to a higher level. When it comes to staying focused, keep in mind: (#1) Focused people always look for a better way. What got you where you are, won’t necessarily get you where you need to be. STORY A family who moved into a new neighborhood got a late start one morning. As a result their 6 year-old missed her school bus. Though it would make him late for work her father agreed to take her to school if she gave him directions. After 20 minutes of going in circles they finally arrived at the school, which turned out to be only a few blocks away from where they lived. Steaming, her dad asked why she drove him all over the place when the school was so close to home. “We went the way the school bus does,” she said. “That’s the only way I know.” (#2) Focused people concentrate a little harder and a little longer. Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Aaron says, “What separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.” Focused thinking is the ability to remove distractions and mental clutter so that you can concentrate with clarity. (#3) Focused people make commitments, not excuses. A sign on the desk of an officer at the Pentagon read: “The secrecy of my job does not permit me to know what I’m doing.” It’s a cute joke, but not so cute when it’s true. When you don’t know what you’re doing, you become frustrated and end up failing. That’s why praying and getting direction from God, Is critical for your life. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Notice: (1) Focused people don’t live in the past. Too many of us yearn for the past and get stuck in it. Instead we should learn from the past and let go of it. Elbert Hubbard wrote, “Being able to remember may be a good thing, but the ability to forget is a token of greatness. Successful people forget They’re running a race. They can’t afford to look behind. Their eye is on the finish line. They’re too big to let little things disturb them. If anyone does them wrong, they consider the source and keep cool. It’s only the small people who cherish revenge. Be a good forgetter….success demands it.” (#2) Focused people don’t think about the difficulties, but the rewards. If you dwell on the difficulties too long you’ll start to develop self-pity instead of self-discipline. As a result you’ll accomplish less and less. By focusing on results you’ll stay encouraged. Make Christ your example. “He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterwards” (Heb 12:2 TLB). (#3) Focused people choose their friends carefully. Always hang around people who will sharpen you, such as people who can teach you something; People who push you to do better, not settle for the mediocre. People who are striving to be the best. My mother used to tell me; “You are known by the company you keep.” People who sharpen you, and people who strengthen you are the ones you want to fellowship with. (e) Rejecters and doubters , people who don’t understand you or what God’s called you to do are the ones to stay away from. So, remain focused and you’ll stay grounded; the praise of others is less likely to go to your head, and the negative impact of your critics will be minimized. Paul told Timothy to focus on his strengths. “That special gift….you were given…keep that dusted off and in use.” Focused people don’t hide their weaknesses or excuse them; instead they focused on their strengths!

Staying Focused

This is a three or four page study that I did a couple of years ago; I am going to break it up into three or four segments to share with my FB friends. I will put them on seperatly, on different days. Stay Focused [] You become effective by being selective. It’s human nature to get distracted. We’re like gyroscopes, spinning around at a frantic pace but not getting anywhere. Without a clear purpose you keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, etc., hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, “This time it will be different,” but it doesn’t solve your real problem -(which is) lack of focus. There is an old proverb that says, “jack of all trades but master of none.” That pretty well sums up a person who is not focused. The power of focusing can be seen in light. With a magnifying glass the rays of the sun can set paper on fire. But when light is focused even more as a laser beam, it can cut through steel. Nothing is as potent as a focused life. The men and women who make the greatest difference in life are the most focused. For instance the Apostle Paul said, “I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing” (Php 3:13 TLB). Paul’s obsession was to make Christ known. So if you want your life to have impact, “focus it!” Stop dabbling. Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Turn away from even good activities and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity. Poet William Matthews wrote, “One well-cultivated talent, deepened and enlarged is worth a hundred shallow faculties. [abilities that we were born with] The first law of success in this day when so many things are clamoring for attention is concentration - to bend our energies to one point, and to go directly to that point, looking neither to the right nor to the left.” Does focus come easily or naturally? No, it’s a discipline that must be practiced every day. Focus does 3 things for you: (#1) It keeps you on target. We find ourselves pulled in a dozen different directions, spending much of our time and energy on things we don’t really care about. Author Don Marquis put it this way: “Ours is a world where people don’t know what they want, and are willing to go through hell to get it.” The Bible says: “Let your eyes look straight ahead….Do not swerve to the right or the left” (Pr 4:25-27 NIV). (#2) (focusing) Increases your energy. Attempting everything, like attempting nothing, will suck the life out of you. Focus gives you energy. Admiral Richard Byrd, the Polar explorer, said, “Few men come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.” One of the reasons those wells go untapped is lack of focus. The mind doesn’t reach toward achievement until it has clear objectives. (#3) (focusing) lifts you. It’s been said that “the world stands aside to let anyone pass, who knows where he or she is going.” In a sea of mediocrity, (average- ness) just knowing what you want to do and making an effort to pursue it, distinguishes you from almost everybody else. PART #2 TOMORROW

showing lov

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (mt.9:13) This is what God says, and it has far reaching meanings and purposes. One of the hardest things to do is show mercy to someone who not only Doesn’t deserve it, but also, seemingly, don’t want it. We must have the “love of God” in us to be able to lay our feelings aside And live only by the love of God.. The scripture above says God desires mercy, not sacrifice, yet, to show Mercy as He does we have to do both, love and sacrifice. “Lord Jesus, shine your light into my heart so I can shine it on others.. May my life become an example of the love and compassion of my Lord.”