Friday, June 1, 2012

Live with Integrity

Psalm 51:6
6Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom inn the inmost place.

What is the inmost place of you? It's your spirit then your soul (mind and emotions). David had sinned and asked God for forgiveness. David admitted that he knew exactly what he had done that was against God. When each of us sins, we outright deny God. David knew that he had gone against what God taught him. He admitted that he knew better and recognized that God wanted nothing more than for him to be truthful about what he had done. Yes, God already knows what we have done but it's nothing like hearing the confession, because the confession is a sign of humility and admittance that what was done was willful. Yes, God desires truth from you. He wants you to use the wisdom He's taught you. What good is wisdom and knowledge given if never applied? It just becomes information. We live in an information overload and a constant downloading society so God's intention is never about just giving more information. He wants you to be wise, obedient and live with integrity. In order to live with integrity it starts within your spirit and being truthful with God. Most would rather not be truthful with God because it also means being truthful with yourself and anyone else who has believed the lie you sold.  What truth do you think you're hiding from God? He already knows your transgression, He's just waiting for you to say it. What wisdom has He already given you? Have you used it or is it just another piece of information? What if God treated your prayer of need the way you treat the wisdom He has given you? What if it was just another piece of information to Him? How would you feel?

P.S. Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com! Check out my man V of the Artist to Artist show this Saturday at 8am CT/9am ET!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Tomorrow May Never Come for You

Matthew 27:50-52
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Many would call the hour Jesus died as just a story but last week I came across an article on MSNBC from the Discovery Channel called "Quake reveals date of Jesus crucifixion, researchers believe" which talks about geologists who have now been able to prove Jesus time of death based on seismic activity. From the article:

Geologists say Jesus, as described in the New Testament, was most likely crucified on Friday, April 3, in the year 33.
The latest investigation, reported in International Geology Review, focused on earthquake activity at the Dead Sea, located 13 miles from Jerusalem. The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 27, mentions that an earthquake coincided with the crucifixion:
To analyze earthquake activity in the region, geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geosciences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea. Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. and a seismic event that happened sometime between the years 26 and 36. The latter period occurred during “the years when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and when the earthquake of the Gospel of Matthew is historically constrained,” Williams said."The day and date of the crucifixion (Good Friday) are known with a fair degree of precision," he said. But the year has been in question.
  • All four gospels and Tacitus in Annals (XV, 44) agree that the crucifixion occurred when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea from A.D. 26 to 36.
  • All four gospels say the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.
  • All four gospels agree that Jesus died a few hours before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (nightfall on a Friday).
  • The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) indicate that Jesus died before nightfall on the 14th day of Nisan, right before the start of the Passover meal.
  • John’s gospel differs from the synoptics, apparently indicating that Jesus died before nightfall on the 15th day of Nisan.
When data about the Jewish calendar and astronomical calculations are factored in, a handful of possible dates result, with Friday, April 3, 33, being the best match, according to the researchers.
Now why is so much of the article included above? If you are not a believer and follower of Jesus Christ or are only following Jesus when convenient, reading just a portion of the article is powerful enough to reconsider your stance on Jesus and your life. Many say they believe in God yet treat God as some little fairy but the Holy Bible is real, the events are real not just stories, Jesus is real, Heaven and Hell are real. The plight of your soul (mind and emotions) and spirit is real. If you are not on the right path, it's a good time to start. What will you say on your judgement day? Tomorrow may never come for you. What are you doing today? Think about the information the geologists have found that support what happened to our beloved Savior all for the sake of saving you and me from our sins if you just accept Him.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

You Can Walk in Purpose No Matter What

Acts 7:30
30After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin and gave an account of the life of Moses before he was stoned to death in the presence of a man whom Jesus would call to bring the gospel of Jesus to the gentiles. Moses was eighty years old before he actually walked in his God-given purpose. Moses was forty years old when he left Egypt. He was well versed in Egyptian culture and education. As the word says, "he was educated in all the wisdom of Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action." So it's no wonder that God sent him back to Egypt as His spokesperson to free the Jews. Moses was raised by the enemy to then become the deliverer and defeat the enemy with the mighty power of the Lord. What a purpose! Do you know that God can use you at any time and any age no matter what your past? What you may not know is the Lord can use aspects of your bad past and utilize it for good. And yes, the Lord can get your attention with a burning bush experience if needed. When He says He wants to use you, do not run because He will find you anyway. The best thing to do is to accept whatever purpose He has made especially for you. There will not only be joy and fulfillment but you'll have a peace that you won't have if you keep running and denying Him. The lack of peace will be torture to your soul. Do not fear giving up what the Lord asks you. He can give you double as He did Moses. Moses made a greater impact as a deliverer and leader of a nation-remembered by many more than if he had taken his place in Egypt.

P.S. Check out the Top 10 Countdown on Church Beat Radio at www.churchbeatradio.com!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Eating Rocks

Proverbs 20:17
17Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

King Solomon used food to denote what can be consumed. Actually, the preparer of the food was considered to be someone not of good standing with the Lord. For the man keeping company with one not of good standing, it's a sure way to fall and most hurtful to him. Anything gained and consumed by less than desirable or truthful means may seem good in the beginning but it ends up being distasteful and unpleasant in the end. What does a mouth full of gravel taste like? If you know anything about gravel then you know gravel is loose, small rocks often mixed with dirt. Rocks are hard and can shatter and chip the contents of anything with enough force. Chewing on gravel most certainly cannot be a pleasant experience and must be very painful. This is exactly what God wants you to understand. If you gain something the wrong way, it may seem like you have retrieved something sweet and valuable but it will soon become very painful before it is said done. Fraud as defined by Merriam-Webster's Online dictionary is simply deceit, trickery or misinterpretation of what something really is. Have you ever obtained anything based on lies, deceit or misinterpretation? How bad did it hurt? Did it feel like you were eating rocks?