What does "seek first the kingdom of God" mean to you?
Think about it first. We have been taught our whole lives what that "means".... but what does it look like?
To me is seems quite simple. If we were to travel to a distant land with the sole instruction to find the kingdom of Swanama the steps would be simple. Look for anything that looks like the kingdom of Swanama. Our instructions were not to conquor that Kingdom. The instructions were not to understand the Kingdom. Our instructions were not to make everyone else go to that Kingdom. The simple instruction was to seek first the Kingdom of God.
To me that means always being on the lookout for where the kingdom of God might be. Always be looking because it might just pop out where you least expect it. Seek..... look intently. Always be aware. Acknowledge the Kingdom.
It brings to mind the scripture in Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
I could go on and on about this.. but this is all I have time to write for now.
So.. go about your day.. .always looking for the kingdom of God.
I also have in mind Heaven on EArth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGQa4tfTV4c&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
The Love Behind Easter
What Is Easter All About?
I am sitting here thinking about this question and so many analogies go through my mind. Here is my attempt to explain to me what Easter is all about.
You..... have a serious heart condition. The doctors have tried everything to prolong your life. Medicine, surgeries... you have changed your diet. You have changed your lifestyle to include exercise.. but still you are in the hospital more than you are at home.
That day comes when the medical team calls in your family to tell you and them that there is nothing else they can do.. that you only have a few days left. The only thing that could save you at this point would be a heart transplant. They had considered this earlier... but no heart ever came available that was a match because of a rare blood type that you have.
Saddened by your situation, a close friend of yours secretly has his blood type checked.... and a miracle... he has that same rare blood type.
Your friend goes to the chapel at the hospital and prays, "God, I want to give my heart to my friend".
God says, "Do you realize that this would mean death for you?"
He replies, "I do."
God: "Why would you do this?"
Your friend: "Because I love my friend so much that I want his life to continue, even if it means my life ending".
God: "This is such an unusual and unselfish request that I will grant this request".
He quickly grabs a paper and pen and scribbles a note to the medical team. "Dear Doctors, my blood type is the same as my friend. I give up my life so he can live."
To you he writes, "Dear friend, I love you with all my heart and life".
He goes over to the wall, pushes the code blue alarm in the chapel... and lays down at the altar. He exhales for the last time...... His heart stops.... He is gone.
Days later..... you wake up. You have no idea what has taken place. Your family and friends are all around you. You look for your close buddy... he is not there. You ask where he is.... and they hand you your friends note.
You are overwhelmed with sadness and gratefulness at the same time. Of course you have a lot of questions.... you do not understand how someone could love you THAT much!
You recover. You are given a new lease on life. You look at life differently. Every breath you breathe is because of your friend. Every heart beat occurs as a result of his great love for you. Every day is a new gift.... because of your friend.
You... dear reader are that person. You were born with a disease called sin. The doctors have tried everything to fix you. You have changed everything to try to fix it yourself.... but nothing has worked. You need a heart transplant. Someone had to die in order for you to live. That person is Jesus Christ. His love is so strong and intense for you that you will never be able to totally comprehend it. With that intense love... He gave up His life so that you...... could live.
During this Easter season... reflect on Jesus' love for you. If you know Him... draw closer to Him. If you don't know Him, ask Him into your heart and let Him give you a new heart...... and a new life!
I am sitting here thinking about this question and so many analogies go through my mind. Here is my attempt to explain to me what Easter is all about.
You..... have a serious heart condition. The doctors have tried everything to prolong your life. Medicine, surgeries... you have changed your diet. You have changed your lifestyle to include exercise.. but still you are in the hospital more than you are at home.
That day comes when the medical team calls in your family to tell you and them that there is nothing else they can do.. that you only have a few days left. The only thing that could save you at this point would be a heart transplant. They had considered this earlier... but no heart ever came available that was a match because of a rare blood type that you have.
Saddened by your situation, a close friend of yours secretly has his blood type checked.... and a miracle... he has that same rare blood type.
Your friend goes to the chapel at the hospital and prays, "God, I want to give my heart to my friend".
God says, "Do you realize that this would mean death for you?"
He replies, "I do."
God: "Why would you do this?"
Your friend: "Because I love my friend so much that I want his life to continue, even if it means my life ending".
God: "This is such an unusual and unselfish request that I will grant this request".
He quickly grabs a paper and pen and scribbles a note to the medical team. "Dear Doctors, my blood type is the same as my friend. I give up my life so he can live."
To you he writes, "Dear friend, I love you with all my heart and life".
He goes over to the wall, pushes the code blue alarm in the chapel... and lays down at the altar. He exhales for the last time...... His heart stops.... He is gone.
Days later..... you wake up. You have no idea what has taken place. Your family and friends are all around you. You look for your close buddy... he is not there. You ask where he is.... and they hand you your friends note.
You are overwhelmed with sadness and gratefulness at the same time. Of course you have a lot of questions.... you do not understand how someone could love you THAT much!
You recover. You are given a new lease on life. You look at life differently. Every breath you breathe is because of your friend. Every heart beat occurs as a result of his great love for you. Every day is a new gift.... because of your friend.
You... dear reader are that person. You were born with a disease called sin. The doctors have tried everything to fix you. You have changed everything to try to fix it yourself.... but nothing has worked. You need a heart transplant. Someone had to die in order for you to live. That person is Jesus Christ. His love is so strong and intense for you that you will never be able to totally comprehend it. With that intense love... He gave up His life so that you...... could live.
During this Easter season... reflect on Jesus' love for you. If you know Him... draw closer to Him. If you don't know Him, ask Him into your heart and let Him give you a new heart...... and a new life!
Monday, February 10, 2014
Pleasure
How many of us love pleasure?
I am a pleasure addict. I love a good meal. One of my favorites would be a great conversation with my wife, family, a good friend or even a complete stranger. Right now my life is full of pleasures: traveling, good company, new sites and good food. I am in heaven.
Don't you know that God made us in His image.... meaning just like Himself, He also likes pleasure.
One of the biggest ways that God receives pleasure is when we express faith in Him. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God.
That seems to say to me then, that every single day, we will be presented with opportunities in which we will need to express faith in God. When we do.... we bring pleasure to God. :-)
So, each day, we should not seek the "easy" life without challenges, but instead be consistently looking for opportunities where we need to express faith in God... therefore bringing pleasure to our God.
Wow!!! What a new way to look at those things that cause us so much fear and anxiety. Bills, jobs, hurts, health.... let them be the catalyst that brings joy to our Father's heart.
If you notice, as we express this faith and bring pleasure to our Father, it even makes our lives that much more pleasureable!
It is a win-win situation!
So.... that thing you are facing right now..... see it for what it truly is... your golden opportunity to truly make the Father happy!
Shalom!
I am a pleasure addict. I love a good meal. One of my favorites would be a great conversation with my wife, family, a good friend or even a complete stranger. Right now my life is full of pleasures: traveling, good company, new sites and good food. I am in heaven.
Don't you know that God made us in His image.... meaning just like Himself, He also likes pleasure.
One of the biggest ways that God receives pleasure is when we express faith in Him. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God.
That seems to say to me then, that every single day, we will be presented with opportunities in which we will need to express faith in God. When we do.... we bring pleasure to God. :-)
So, each day, we should not seek the "easy" life without challenges, but instead be consistently looking for opportunities where we need to express faith in God... therefore bringing pleasure to our God.
Wow!!! What a new way to look at those things that cause us so much fear and anxiety. Bills, jobs, hurts, health.... let them be the catalyst that brings joy to our Father's heart.
If you notice, as we express this faith and bring pleasure to our Father, it even makes our lives that much more pleasureable!
It is a win-win situation!
So.... that thing you are facing right now..... see it for what it truly is... your golden opportunity to truly make the Father happy!
Shalom!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Why Some People No Longer Follow God
Why Some People No Longer Follow God
God is all powerful. Satan is not. Satan can not harm or defeat God even though he would like to.
This whole life revolves around God creating man in order to have a relationship with him. That is God's biggest desire and aim.... what this life is all about!!!!!
Satan can, on the other hand, sway mankind because man has a free will. Satan will try everything to get us to not have a relationship with God. His tricks are numerous. He will put thoughts in our minds. He will point at a situation in our life and say things like, "See that! God caused that to happen because He does not love you!" "If God loved you then you would have that job, or that spouse, or the perfect life!" So God must not love you!" There are many other numerous tricks that he will try in order for us to doubt God's love for us.
Once he convinces a person that God is not the loving Father that He is the next step is only natural....... for us to want nothing to do with God. Which, sadly to say, is happening all around us today. I must confess that I have fallen subject this this ploy as well in the past.
Knowing how much God loves man and how He longs for relationship with man, Satan realizes the most injury he can do to God is to put a knife through His heart each time one of His children turns away from the love He has to offer.
Sometimes it is through catastrophic events that happen in our lives. Sometimes it is just the subtle, tiny, everyday annoyances that the enemy of God will use to wear us down and cause us to turn away from God.
Don't be deceived!
1. God wants a relationship with you!
2. Satan does not want you to have a relationship with God!
John 10:10 says The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they (we) may have life, and have it to the full.
If it is stealing, killing and destroying you and pulling you away from a relationship with God.... then it is the enemy. If it is full of life and leads to a relationship with the Father.... then it is God.
Let us stop listening to the lies of the enemy. Let us return to a vibrant relationship with the Father and no longer be the knife in the hand of the enemy that wounds the heart of God.
God is all powerful. Satan is not. Satan can not harm or defeat God even though he would like to.
This whole life revolves around God creating man in order to have a relationship with him. That is God's biggest desire and aim.... what this life is all about!!!!!
Satan can, on the other hand, sway mankind because man has a free will. Satan will try everything to get us to not have a relationship with God. His tricks are numerous. He will put thoughts in our minds. He will point at a situation in our life and say things like, "See that! God caused that to happen because He does not love you!" "If God loved you then you would have that job, or that spouse, or the perfect life!" So God must not love you!" There are many other numerous tricks that he will try in order for us to doubt God's love for us.
Once he convinces a person that God is not the loving Father that He is the next step is only natural....... for us to want nothing to do with God. Which, sadly to say, is happening all around us today. I must confess that I have fallen subject this this ploy as well in the past.
Knowing how much God loves man and how He longs for relationship with man, Satan realizes the most injury he can do to God is to put a knife through His heart each time one of His children turns away from the love He has to offer.
Sometimes it is through catastrophic events that happen in our lives. Sometimes it is just the subtle, tiny, everyday annoyances that the enemy of God will use to wear us down and cause us to turn away from God.
Don't be deceived!
1. God wants a relationship with you!
2. Satan does not want you to have a relationship with God!
John 10:10 says The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they (we) may have life, and have it to the full.
If it is stealing, killing and destroying you and pulling you away from a relationship with God.... then it is the enemy. If it is full of life and leads to a relationship with the Father.... then it is God.
Let us stop listening to the lies of the enemy. Let us return to a vibrant relationship with the Father and no longer be the knife in the hand of the enemy that wounds the heart of God.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
No I.D. required..... Just faith!
A paradigm. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Therefore.... we will always have situations that come into our life that require us to utilize faith. Looks like we will never come to a place where there is smooth sailing because .... we want to please God and He..... wants to reward us...... and that my friend, is a good thing!
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
Of
all people... I would think I would have it smooth sailing. Why not? I
have a good job, a good wife, great kids... I'm good looking (no
comments). I live in America. I have good health... ya da, ya da, ya
da! But still.. most days are a struggle to not get down and
discouraged. I think it is related to my post above. Strange huh? Any
thoughts?
- To help us.... God even gives us the faith that we need to please Him... and to get through any situation.
- Ephesians 2:8 Says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:So..... if someone doesn't believe does that mean that God did not give them that gift of faith? No... Romans 12:3 says For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
My Favorite Christmas Gift
My
favorite gift this Christmas? It is a gift that my Father gave me.
That gift is faith. This gift causes me to believe in the grace of God
that causes me to walk in a wonderful life.
The Father offers this free gift to everyone. Some don't ever open it... in fact they snub their nose at the Giver. Some open it and toss it aside because there think there are better things out there. Some open it and enjoy it for awhile and are grateful but then listen to others when they say there are so much more better gifts out there. Then there are those who open that gift.... not totally understanding it... but they continue to explore it. It never ceases to amaze them as they explore... it becomes more vast. They realize that this gift is a mystery that can't be explained... it has to be experienced.
I have been in every stage of this gift receiving. But as I have walked down the paths that these decisions have led me, and began to experience the consequences of my decisions... I saw the destruction that was coming my way. I quickly ran back and looked for that gift of faith and began to explore it again only to realize that what it offers is what I truly want and need.
Today, as I have some time alone to spend in the Father's presence. I realize this...
You will show me the path of life: In Your presence is fullness of joy and at Your right hand pleasures for evermore. Ps 16:11
The Father offers this free gift to everyone. Some don't ever open it... in fact they snub their nose at the Giver. Some open it and toss it aside because there think there are better things out there. Some open it and enjoy it for awhile and are grateful but then listen to others when they say there are so much more better gifts out there. Then there are those who open that gift.... not totally understanding it... but they continue to explore it. It never ceases to amaze them as they explore... it becomes more vast. They realize that this gift is a mystery that can't be explained... it has to be experienced.
I have been in every stage of this gift receiving. But as I have walked down the paths that these decisions have led me, and began to experience the consequences of my decisions... I saw the destruction that was coming my way. I quickly ran back and looked for that gift of faith and began to explore it again only to realize that what it offers is what I truly want and need.
Today, as I have some time alone to spend in the Father's presence. I realize this...
You will show me the path of life: In Your presence is fullness of joy and at Your right hand pleasures for evermore. Ps 16:11
Sunday, November 24, 2013
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