Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Without Today

John 12:24-25
 
24Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
 
 
Eight years ago today, my life changed. If it had not been for the call I received from the doctors saying I would be dead in a matter of hours, do you know Get Your JOY In The Morning would not exist? That includes the devotional ministry, the books, the authors I've been blessed to mentor, fighting/educating to stop child sexual abuse, the role with Divine Voice Magazine/Divine Voice Publishing, the documentary film I am directing/producing. This does not include the lives Jesus allowed me to touch, including yours. I bless God for the time I nearly died. Without it, I would not have lived. God brought me to the point of death, so that His purpose in me could arise.  As Pastor Anderson said, "I met my fish," referring to his preaching on Jonah. The seven year anniversary of Get Your JOY In The Morning the devotional ministry is coming up at the end of this month.  Without today, Get Your JOY In The Morning would not have been birthed that next year. The full story is in the introduction of my book, Get Your JOY In The Morning. Get Your (J)esus (O)n (Y)ou!
 
 
 

Sunday, March 6, 2016

There Are Many Facets...

Matthew 26:35
 
35"Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.
 

God had been showing me this for a few days. Jesus had shared a very hard fact with the disciples which they were not ready to hear. He told them they would be made to stumble because of Him. However, Jesus gave them GOOD News. He told them, "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." Jesus already told them He would forgive them for the betrayal. And each of them insisted they wouldn't do what Jesus said they would. How can you tell the Savior who knows all things what you will and won't do? He knows you better than you know you. How many people have told you upfront that you would betray them and in so many words that they would forgive you? Hard pill to swallow right? Well what exactly does it mean to betray someone? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines betray as: 1) to lead astray: esp. seduce;  2) to deliver to an enemy;  3) abandon; 4) to prove unfaithful to; 5) to reveal unintentionally; also: show, indicate.
 
There are many facets of betrayal. How many have betrayed you based on the definition? How many have you betrayed? While you cannot speak for the actions done to you, you can speak to what you have done. Did you betray because you knew you would be forgiven? Or did you betray not thinking about it? Does already knowing you will be forgiven make it right? No. But we do it everyday with Jesus. How many others do we do this to? Our relationship with Christ is also reflective of our relationship with others.
 
Jesus knows you better than you know you. Are you thanking Jesus for the grace you receive? You know Jesus loves you. What about those who you betray? Are you thanking Jesus for the grace He provides in their hearts to forgive you too? Not because they stand to gain but because they love you.
 
Photos below of the thirty pieces of silver used to deliver Jesus to an enemy. And Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane with the disciples asleep in the background from my trip to TBN's Holy Land Experience