Proverbs 15:24
24The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave.
King
Solomon understood the value of wisdom. He associated the path of
wisdom with that of Life and folly/sin as the way of death. Wisdom is
of God therefore there is only life in Him. Jesus says in John 14:6 "I
am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me." Therefore, the only way to true life is through Jesus and
Jesus leads to the Father in Heaven. King Solomon also referenced
"upward" which denotes Heaven bound while down denotes Hell bound. God
has a path for each person but your choices (free will) set your path in
motion. When you walk in Jesus and seek to do the Lord's will you
continue to move toward Him. But when you walk in sin and your own way
you move farther from the Lord and closer to spiritual death. Choose
life in all you do which simply means, choose Jesus.
P.S. Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Order of Relationship
Matthew 10:37
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Jesus was bold when He made the statement to the disciples that absolutely NO ONE is to come between them and Him. This command was not just for the disciples. It is not that you don't love you family because you are to do so but if pleasing your family is going against pleasing the Lord, then you have chosen them over your relationship with the Lord. God specifically said that we are to have no other gods before Him. That means NO ONE is to come between you and the Lord. When you make the choice to love your father, mother, son, daughter even spouse more than you love the Lord, you have said you choose them over Him. Most of us don't even recognize that we've done it. But it starts with the little things then eventually grows. Yet, when you die, your family can not determine your home in the afterlife. Your family cannot provide you with salvation. Yes, you are to minister to your family and be an example but your tie is to the Lord first. Many say family first. But it's actually God first, then family. This order is not just for those "in ministry" it's for everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ. When the Lord says go right and your family says go left, which are you following? What order is your relationship in? Is the Lord REALLY first in your life? Putting the Lord first means making the tough choices that may leave others upset in the beginning but when they see God's purpose fulfilled and brought to life, then even they will have to testify to the glory of the Lord.
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Jesus was bold when He made the statement to the disciples that absolutely NO ONE is to come between them and Him. This command was not just for the disciples. It is not that you don't love you family because you are to do so but if pleasing your family is going against pleasing the Lord, then you have chosen them over your relationship with the Lord. God specifically said that we are to have no other gods before Him. That means NO ONE is to come between you and the Lord. When you make the choice to love your father, mother, son, daughter even spouse more than you love the Lord, you have said you choose them over Him. Most of us don't even recognize that we've done it. But it starts with the little things then eventually grows. Yet, when you die, your family can not determine your home in the afterlife. Your family cannot provide you with salvation. Yes, you are to minister to your family and be an example but your tie is to the Lord first. Many say family first. But it's actually God first, then family. This order is not just for those "in ministry" it's for everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ. When the Lord says go right and your family says go left, which are you following? What order is your relationship in? Is the Lord REALLY first in your life? Putting the Lord first means making the tough choices that may leave others upset in the beginning but when they see God's purpose fulfilled and brought to life, then even they will have to testify to the glory of the Lord.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Crowd Control
Ezekiel 46:9c
9No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate.
The Lord provided the prophet Ezekiel with guidelines for how the people of Israel were to enter and exit the temple on Sabbath and feast days. To control the crowd and keep the flow moving the people could not walk out the same door they came in. To do so would create a bottleneck effect. This scenario is actually parallel to life. Many do not notice but when God brings you through one door, he doesn't expect you to walk through the same door to exit. To keep the flow going in your life you are to go forward not backward. A new blessing comes when you close a door on something old. You cannot hold a new blessing in your hand if you are still holding something God said to let go of. There's no room in your hand, it's crowded. A closet is full of clothes but when God says He wants to give you an entire new wardrobe, the only way to accept it is to remove the old clothes. God has doors for every person. When He says door number three is the best benefit but you have to close door number one, realize you can't walk through door number three if you're still standing at door number one. There's not enough of you to go around to walk through both. And your hand isn't big enough for what God wants to give if you're holding on to something He said has to drop.
God has crowd control for the blessings in your life but you have to follow the entrance and exit signs.
9No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate.
The Lord provided the prophet Ezekiel with guidelines for how the people of Israel were to enter and exit the temple on Sabbath and feast days. To control the crowd and keep the flow moving the people could not walk out the same door they came in. To do so would create a bottleneck effect. This scenario is actually parallel to life. Many do not notice but when God brings you through one door, he doesn't expect you to walk through the same door to exit. To keep the flow going in your life you are to go forward not backward. A new blessing comes when you close a door on something old. You cannot hold a new blessing in your hand if you are still holding something God said to let go of. There's no room in your hand, it's crowded. A closet is full of clothes but when God says He wants to give you an entire new wardrobe, the only way to accept it is to remove the old clothes. God has doors for every person. When He says door number three is the best benefit but you have to close door number one, realize you can't walk through door number three if you're still standing at door number one. There's not enough of you to go around to walk through both. And your hand isn't big enough for what God wants to give if you're holding on to something He said has to drop.
God has crowd control for the blessings in your life but you have to follow the entrance and exit signs.
Monday, May 7, 2012
At the Edge of Sorrow
Matthew 26:38
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Jesus though willingly went to the cross, endured the wrestling and agony that sorrow brings. We often do not look at the fact Jesus wrestled with sorrow but He did just as we do. Jesus was not only sent to die on the cross but also to experience life as we experience. This is how we know we can strive to live as Christ, because He came to identify with us. How many times have you experienced sorrow in your life? Was it so overwhelming to the point of death as Jesus expressed? Jesus understands your pain like no other. What is sorrow? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines sorrow as 1. deep distress, sadness or regret also: resultant unhappy or unpleasant state 2. a cause of grief or sadness 3. a display of grief or sadness. Jesus knew He had to go through death but it wasn't pleasant for Him in the least. It wasn't just physically painful but knowing ahead of time that He had to go through was emotionally painful. As the soul is the mind and emotions, Jesus expressed His soul was sorrowful. No matter your sorrow, Jesus can heal.
At the Edge of Sorrow
As tears fall and a heart is breaking,
you are at the edge of sorrow.
When there is no strength left and even to move seems like a struggle,
you are at the edge of sorrow.
When there is nothing left to say and a prayer can barely come forth,
you are at the edge of sorrow.
It is at the edge of sorrow where Jesus sits waiting with an outstretched hand.
It is at the edge of sorrow, when nothing, not a drink, nor money, nor lust, nor food can console you.
It is at the edge of sorrow where Jesus can do the most.
It is at the edge of sorrow where you can finally give it all to Him for He knows sorrow just like us.
By Joy T.J. Riley
P.S. I will be on I Need A Change Blog Talk Radio this Friday, May 11th at 11pm! Be sure to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on www.QLiveone.com Saturdays at 8am CT/9am ET!
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Jesus though willingly went to the cross, endured the wrestling and agony that sorrow brings. We often do not look at the fact Jesus wrestled with sorrow but He did just as we do. Jesus was not only sent to die on the cross but also to experience life as we experience. This is how we know we can strive to live as Christ, because He came to identify with us. How many times have you experienced sorrow in your life? Was it so overwhelming to the point of death as Jesus expressed? Jesus understands your pain like no other. What is sorrow? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines sorrow as 1. deep distress, sadness or regret also: resultant unhappy or unpleasant state 2. a cause of grief or sadness 3. a display of grief or sadness. Jesus knew He had to go through death but it wasn't pleasant for Him in the least. It wasn't just physically painful but knowing ahead of time that He had to go through was emotionally painful. As the soul is the mind and emotions, Jesus expressed His soul was sorrowful. No matter your sorrow, Jesus can heal.
At the Edge of Sorrow
As tears fall and a heart is breaking,
you are at the edge of sorrow.
When there is no strength left and even to move seems like a struggle,
you are at the edge of sorrow.
When there is nothing left to say and a prayer can barely come forth,
you are at the edge of sorrow.
It is at the edge of sorrow where Jesus sits waiting with an outstretched hand.
It is at the edge of sorrow, when nothing, not a drink, nor money, nor lust, nor food can console you.
It is at the edge of sorrow where Jesus can do the most.
It is at the edge of sorrow where you can finally give it all to Him for He knows sorrow just like us.
By Joy T.J. Riley
P.S. I will be on I Need A Change Blog Talk Radio this Friday, May 11th at 11pm! Be sure to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on www.QLiveone.com Saturdays at 8am CT/9am ET!
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