Friday, January 27, 2012

It Is the Foundation

James 1:8
8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

The apostle James, the brother of Jesus addressed the Jewish Christians who were spread out across the nation. He talked specifically about trials and tribulations and where one's mind is regarding the Lord when facing them. What does it mean to be double-minded? It's the state of not knowing where one stands. It's the idea that one has not, can not or will not make a decision on what one believes to be true. What's the problem with this? As the apostle James says, it means one is unstable. But then what is unstable? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines unstable as not stable, fickle, vacillating, lacking effective emotional control, readily changing (as by decomposing) in chemical or physical composition or in biological activity. So in other words one has the inability to make up their mind and lacks mental clarity. There is no stability in one's thoughts, language and actions and they can't be counted on. Why is this a problem? If one is unstable with the Lord how can they be trusted? There's a reciprocal trust level with the Lord. If we trust Him and do as He has called us to do, He'll show us as we grow just how much He trusts us. But trust is the foundation. If we don't know where we stand regarding the Lord on the little trials, we certainly won't trust Him on the big ones. And if we are going back and  forth of whether we will trust and follow Him, how can He ever come to a place where He will trust us with anything? Unstable simply means one can't be trusted. The foundation of any relationship is trust. Where there is no trust, there is no relationship. Our relationship with the Lord will also be reflected in our relationships with man. So if the Lord isn't able to trust us to declare where we stand with Him, how will we do it with man?

P.S. Remember to check out my man V this Saturday on the Artist to Artist Show on www.Qliveone.com at 8am CT, 2pm CT and 9pm CT and catch the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Subject to Void

Jeremiah 33:6
6"Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

"Nevertheless" or in spite of means even though God's people used everything they had to fight off the Babylonians and so many of them suffered death from the battle, the Lord would restore them. Hmmm. Do we deserve to be restored after disobedience to God? No, but that's the beauty of His mercy once we've confessed and are truly sorry for our actions. We don't pay the full price of our sin. He only gives us a taste of where our disobedience can and will lead us. It does hurt but not as bad as it could. He offered health and healing to Jerusalem or restoration. God gave the prophet Jeremiah the word that He would "let them enjoy" peace and security. No matter what we have, there is no peace or security greater than that of our Lord. When one has no peace and security, there is no foundation. Just as Jeremiah was given the word, it is the Lord who determines ALL we have. He allowed the Babylonians to take everything away from the people of Israel for their disobedience but it was also the Lord who allowed them to be restored. The Lord created the world and He holds the keys to it. The ONLY way to have lasting abundance, peace and security is through Him. Everything in this world is subject to void by His authority.

P.S. Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network at www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen to great inspirational music!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

No One Is Greater

Luke 13:3
3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

A crowd was with Jesus and many of them talked of the sin the Galileans involved themselves in regarding sacrifices. They wanted to know if the sin of the Galileans was worse then what Jesus had just previously spoke about. Jesus clearly said sin is sin. Sin will not be broken down by classification as to say bad, worse, worst. None of it is good to the Lord. All of us have fallen short of His expectations but we don't have to stay there if we repent. If we are truly sorrowful for our actions, not because we're in trouble but because we know it's wrong. Then and only then will the Lord provide a way out. Whether the sin is lying, cheating, stealing, fornicating, adultery murder, putting things and people before Him, disobedience (which encompasses them all) etc we have an opportunity to turn away from the sin. But if we do not, we shall reap the consequences of our actions which ultimately result in both a spiritual death and eventually a physical death. We place such a heavy burden on ourselves for the sin we allow to rule in our lives. It's unfortunate because we deprive ourselves of a level of peace that comes from giving up the sin. It doesn't matter what it is, if it's unpleasing to God, He will not bless it.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Worth More Than a Price Tag

Psalm 36:7
7How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

What does it mean for something to be priceless? According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, priceless means having a value beyond price. We put price tags on so many things but God's unfailing love is worth more than we could ever hope to put a price tag on. The idea that something will never fail seems impossible with the state of the economy, government, judicial system, etc as so many see it. But as Luke 1:37 says " For nothing is impossible with God." Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:8 that "love never fails". God's love never fails because he desires all of us to experience His love and He is the epitome of love. We experience Him everyday but we take it for granted. He gives us the sun and rain possible to refresh the earth and ourselves. He keeps us breathing throughout the night and allows us to open our eyes. He makes provision so we have a way to care for our families. And even when there doesn't seem like a way, He still makes a way that everything is covered.  No matter the status in life, we all have access to the Lord. We all can find protection in Him, even from our enemies. We unfortunately don't always desire the search for Him. However, we don't have to look far.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Weary But Not Swayed

Luke 7:24
24After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

John the Baptist sent his men to Jesus. He wanted to confirm that Jesus was the man he had preached about for years before he was beheaded. The confirmation would confirm that John did what the Lord sent him to do. And Jesus gladly gave that confirmation. John was weary as he was facing death and just wanted to know that he had not sent forth God's word in vain. It was after John's men had left that Jesus stated just how much John the Baptist was willing to give the word of the Lord regardless of whether he was liked or what was said was unpopular. John was not swayed by man's opinion. Let's face it, man is fickle. When we don't hear what we want to hear, we turn a deaf ear as to say that it's false. But when God gives a word, he doesn't care if we like it, He simply loves and cares enough about us to reveal the truth. The Pharisees didn't like John the Baptist and neither did Herod. Herod was the king who imprisoned John because the Lord gave a word against him through John. His brother's wife whom he took was angry also because the word was given against what they were doing. Their feelings did not sway John. John the Baptist continued to give the word of the Lord as it was given to him. But when it was his time to die, he wanted to know that it wasn't in vain. Have you ever done something with all your heart and soul and because you couldn't see became weary? No matter what the opinions of man were, you moved forth because it was what the Lord had deemed. Just as Jesus gladly gave the confirmation to John, He will surely give us small confirmations when our spirit becomes weary. Keep holding to God's mission, do not abandon the because it's unpopular. Keep moving in His will and way. For surely, your vindication will come because the Lord is who He says He is.