Feast of faith or fear?

"Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Phillip,'Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?' But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do." ~John 6:4-6~

Isn't it just like Jesus to ask us a loaded question that He already knows the answer to. He tests us, to see if our focus is on the natural or the supernatural. Verse 7: "Phillip answered Him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little". How often I'm like Phillip. I'm focused on the magnitude of the need, and how insufficient the supply. I look and think this is too much to expect, too big to be conquered. Yet we read in verses 8-14 that Jesus does the supernatural. He feeds 5000 men with 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish. And He does it with 12 baskets of left overs to spare! Friend, how big is the need in your life? Is it financial? Do you need physical healing? Does your mind beg freedom from depression & anxiety? Are you so emotionally broken hearted, you can't imagine life ever being normal again? Jesus is...Jesus sees your need. He is asking you to focus on the supernatural. He is here. He is able....HE is all sufficient. Believe Him to work that miracle.

Strength

Isaiah 40:31- Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Wat is strength? Where does does it come from? I once heard someone say that strength is the absence of your weakness and how true that is. Because as christians we are to draw our strength from God every day and if we do that he fills in those weakness for us and gives us what we need to make it through the day. I can do all things through christ right?? So the next time you find yourself in a tight spot or just want a little extra pep then call on him and he'll give you what you need.

Forgetfulness

"Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness' sake, O Lord" ~Ps 25:7~

Awesome message by Bro. Jim at revival last night on this passage. Something we don't focus enough on: forgetfulness. We all long to be seen for who we are, and not for the mistakes we have made. Satan tries to rob us of the confidence to stand boldly for Christ by reminding us of our past. But God chooses to not only forgive our past, but forget it. He does this so that we can go on with HIS kingdom's work, go on with His ministry. I used to believe some sins were just worse than others, no matter how many ministers tried to teach me otherwise. It wasn't until I experienced the "bigger sins" in my life that I understood why they are all the same in God's eyes...they all require the blood of Christ to forgive. They all require the forgetfulness of the Father to get past. And no past is bad enough to render us useless for the Kingdom...Grace in the purest love, no longer to live under the law. God will forgive ANYTHING, and He forgets EVERYTHING He forgives. So should we, ourselves and others. Beth Moore quote from one of my devotions this week: Lord, help me be the kind of person I would want ministering to me when I had failed.

Standing in the gap

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" ~Rom 8:26~

This verse comes to me often on days like yesterday. Waiting in the early morning hours at the hospital for my mom's surgery, I tried to read my daily devotion books but had to re-read several lines for lack of concentration. I tried to write in my prayer journal and forcefully wrote a short paragraph (I'm sure the content of it brought a chuckle to The Father). Finally, I shut them all and just closed my eyes...I uttered under my breath "You know...".
I get this image of the Holy Spirit reaching into my heart & covering my mind on one side, and then stretching to The Father's heart, interceding between us, interpreting between us. The Trinity feeling everything I feel, knowing every heavy thought on my mind....and just holding me up. I cannot wait until stressful things come into my life to draw near to Him. It's in those moments my heart might to heavy to pray or the moment be too hectic to get alone with Him & draw strength. I have to already BE there with Him, His Spirit close, so that in those moments I can just fall into His arms while He holds me up. ...the prayers of thanksgiving, and deep intimate love between Father and child come after. Whatever You are facing, He knows. Let the Holy Spirit hold you.

Thirsty?

"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." ~Rev 22:17~

Does your soul thirst for a different way of life? Does your mind long for freedom from the cares of this world? Do wake up and wonder the purpose of your existence?...Quench your thirst with the water of life, Jesus. WHOEVER desires, take the water of life FREELY, liberally, abundantly. Let His Spirit fill you, cover you, free your mind, give you purpose...and everlasting fountain within you, never to thirst again, whole, full, satisfied, content. "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" ~John 4:14~

The Bright & Morning Star

"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches, I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star" ~Rev 22:16~

Jesus is the Root and Offspring of David. He is the Root, the foundation of our very existence to those of us who are His children-our Root of life. He sends His angels to testify of it, all throughout history, and especially of His return one day. He is our Bright and Morning Star, he who wakes us and gets us out of bed each morning. Our reason to live. Our reason to press on through hardships. Our light in the darkness. Our source of strength. Our testimony of hope eternal.

Faithful as He promised

"By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised" ~Heb 11:11~

We all are amazed every time we hear of 90 yr old Sarah conceiving and delivering a child. But she was not super woman. She received super natural strength from God to carry out this task. It was her promise. A promise she had received 25 yrs before, yet she knew God to be faithful in His own perfect time. When HE promises you healing, you can be sure He will deliver it. When He promises you peace in the storm, stand in the face of the raging wind and proclaim it. It is not our super natural strength or perfect character witness that makes us worthy to receive it...it is His perfect faithfulness that always stands true to His promises.

Don't wait up for me

"So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" ~Heb 9:28~

The verse just before this says: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement"..."So Christ was offered..." I woke up with that song on my mind this morning, "Don't wait up for me". When that time comes, whether by death or Christ's second appearing, don't wait up for me, don't mourn for me. He has already saved me from my sins, now I'm waiting eagerly for His salvation from the cares of this life and all the hardships we have to face here...Is 25:8 "He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces..." Hallelujah!

Consolation

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ...And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation"
~II Corinth 1:5&7~

I know that James 1:2 says to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials"...but it's hard to be joyful at that moment. I love the closeness and comfort from God that comes through hard times, and I know Phil 1:29 says " For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake". But I found one of the greatest reasons why this matters this last week. As we went on a mission camp trip, there were kids there I could identify with, and as the verses above state "partake in the consolation". I could share the hope of Christ through that particular situation because I've been there. If I had never suffered through it, I could not have consoled them the same way. I've never been actually glad I've endured these things until then, to connect with the human spirit sharing hope. That's exactly why Jesus did what He did...coming here, enduring suffering, to connect with our spirit, console us deeply, and make our hope steadfast...I pray singer Steven Curtis Chapman, who lost his 5 yr old little girl Marie last yr, can share in the consolation of radio announcer JJ Jasper who lost his little boy Cooper this weekend.

Like it never even happened..

"And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." ~Heb 11:32-35~

Have you seen that commercial? The van shows up after a house fire to remove the smoke, water and fire damage, and everything rewinds...their motto is "like it never even happened". They promise to restore the home to a state equal or even better than it's original. Yet the greatest thing is the testimony of awesome restoration that occurred. That's just like God. The entire 11th chapter of Hebrews is such encouragement, what God can restore..."like it never even happened". Such wholeness, complete healing...yet the testimony of awesome restoration from smokey confusion, raging water storms that threatened to overtake you, and time you walked through the fire remains...Hallelujah! Believe Him today. He can so completely restore you, your heart and mind and life can feel "like it never even happened"...And your testimony of faith's healing will be the hope for others.

Shadows disappear

"The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light" ~Rev 21:24~

In the light of His glory....there, in heaven, no more shadows. No more hidden things, no more horrible shocking news to bring you to your knees. No more threats of evil lurking around the corner. No more plots of the enemy in the dark alleys of life. No more fear of what could be next, or of the unknown. The shadows of satan banished forever. Everything illuminated in the light of His glory. Open, beautiful, protected, safe in His presence. Days of forever Sonshine....come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Pleasing words

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer" ~Ps 19:14~

Lord, I see that the power of my words can bring peace, or they can bring doubt, worry, anxiety. Lord, help me to think twice before I speak, and consider how my words may affect others. I want to be an instrument of Your love, Your grace, Your comfort. Open my eyes to any way that the meditation of my heart, and the words of my mouth do not line up with the love of Christ, and correct me, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Stand fast

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle" ~2 Thes 2:15~

Satan will try to convince you through the world that "those spiritual things" no longer apply. He will try to convince you "that was the old law" and that "things are different now in 2009", and "that people don't really go by those things anymore". Let me tell you friend "Stand fast!" God is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. What spiritual lessons HE taught us and our grandparents through worship and spiritual personal encounters absolutely still apply today! People are not different, we are the same as in the days of Abraham, Noah, Moses and Job. We need breath taking arks to save us from floods of life when sin would over take us and destroy us. We need burning bushes to direct us to freedom in times of bondage. We desperately need God to provide a ram in the thicket when we have sacrificed all we have and everybody that we love. And when we are grieved in spirit, covered in sickness of body, we need the same Redeemer Lord of Job to restore us, and heal us. Stand fast in the traditions you were taught by these men! These men, and the many characters of the Bible stand as your Godly heritage, even if the parents you were born to did not fulfill their job to teach you. Let the word of God teach you how to search out and seek the fullness of the spirit of God's heart. Become a student of the Holy Spirit and stand fast!

Let freedom ring

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" ~Rom 8:2~

Hallelujah! I am free, I am free....praise God, in the name of Jesus, and in the Holy Spirit of life He gives, I'm free!

An everlasting love

"The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt..." ~Jer 31:3-4~

An everlasting love...Oh, Father, thank You for loving me like no one else ever could! Thank You for drawing me into Your presence to gain peace, comfort, and strength to face another day. Rebuild me, in every way, let me be rebuilt with Your everlasting love!

Wrestling sickness?

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" ~Jam 5:14-15~

How often do we really do this? Are we afraid to call the elders and ask to be anointed? Do we believe there are men / women of that great faith to pray over us? Is our faith strong enough to believe healing can occur? Does our pride prevent us? Do we trust more in man's medicine than in God's healing power? I know, God has His will about sicknesses of all kinds, some are just for His glory. But I believe He desires to completely heal some of them but can't because we never ask, we never have the faith. We forget that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood" (Eph 6:12)...everything we encounter in life has spiritual connection to it. We are wrestling "against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places". Whatever sickness you are facing...cancer, colds, age, depression, anxiety, or even sin sickness, Jesus is the answer to facing all of them. He is the great physician. And even the sickness He chooses to leave for His glory, He will heal your mind to face each thing, one step at a time. We can still have daily victories wrestling sickness. Praise God, that in the great task of healing our bodies & minds, He still doesn't neglect to forgive us of our sins!