The Act of Acknowledgement

Psalm 50:23
23He who sacrifices thank offerings and honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.

The psalmist speaks of the awesomeness of God but also of how the people of Israel thought that only sacrifices would please God. When we were children, many of us learned how to say 'please' and 'thank you' as soon as we could talk. We were and are to say it as often as we can as a form of acknowledgement of the assistance of others. But what about God? How often do we thank Him. The psalm points out that it's in acknowledging God by thanking Him and praising Him that He loves most. It has been said that man loves recognition more than money. The recognition is the acknowledgment of the work done. God is no different. He wants our acknowledgment and thanks because He doesn't have to do anything. He decided to make us in His own image so we are like the one who created us in that we desire acknowledgement for a job well done. God does more than enough every day. He wakes us up, keeps us breathing, He even protects us from things seen and unseen. He does so much and has such a thankless 'job'. But it's the toughest job that He loves to do because He loves us. Putting in the offering plate is great and so is saying thank you and showing gratitude to Him even by treating thy neighbor well. All these things God sees when we make our sacrifices. But if we don't say thank you and we don't treat each other well, God will rebuke us as the psalm poins out. Do you tell God thank you every day? Do you praise Him every day?

P.S. Have you read the book Get Your JOY In The Morning? Do you know that it was because God gave me a second chance at life when the doctors said I didn't have one that the daily messages exist? If you haven't read the book, I encourage it. You can order it from nearly any online bookstore. If you've already read it please feel free to give a review on the following website: http://phillybookpicks.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/book-pick-for-the-week-23-2/#comment-21069

Securing What Didn't Belong

Matthew 27:65
65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."

Pilate heard rumors that Jesus would be raised from the dead. His perception of 'raised from the dead' involved Jesus' body being stolen by his followers. What Pilate didn't understand was followers wouldn't be taking Jesus' body. For Jesus had the power to pick His own life back up just as He willingly laid it down. What does it mean to secure? According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, there are a few definitions for secure:

1a archaic : unwisely free from fear or distrust : overconfident b : easy in mind : confident c : assured in opinion or expectation : having no doubt
2a : free from danger b : free from risk of loss c : affording safety d : trustworthy, dependable
3: assured 1

Pilate charged the guard with securing something that didn't belong to Pilate. All the security devices in the world at that time did not matter. Jesus' resurrection was proof that death nor anything else could not hold him. Sealing the tomb and placing a guard outside just meant no one could get in. Pilate and the high priests underestimated Jesus' power and ability to get out. ALL authority has been given to Jesus by God the Father which means He can do anything, even the impossible to man's naked eye. One can not secure something that God has not deemed belongs to them. Jesus' life didn't belong to Pilate or anyone else who sought to take his life; therefore, their security attempts failed. Jesus did what was deemed by God the Father because it is to Him that He belongs. The only security we have is that in Jesus.

P.S. Get Your JOY In The Morning is Book Pick of the Week on the following website: http://phillybookpicks.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/book-pick-for-the-week-23-2/#comment-21069! If you've already read Get Your JOY In The Morning please go and rate it!! If you haven't but have thoughts on the book cover, your comments are still appreciated!! THANK YOU!!!

STOP the Drama!!

Jeremiah 2:17
17Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord God when he led you in the way?

Sometimes we bring on our own drama. Just as the prophet Jeremiah said, God already said what we need to do but we hem and haw, stall and even attempt to go in the opposite direction of where He said to go. And we wonder why there's confusion and problems. We go in the opposite direction of where God has led us usually because we don't TRUST God enough at His word. When the Lord says He's got it, then He does. We waste time in our lives when we don't even know how much time we have moving around in circles going nowhere fast. When we were supposed to be at least 50 feet ahead. And all because we lack courage. The drama that exist in our lives is often man made by us because we refuse to move when the Lord says move or stand still when He says to stand still. Some must confess to being drama kings and queens. The constant battling and confusion provides some people with something to talk about because they're not willing to move forward and as long as the confusion is taking place hope no one notices that they're not moving. But alas, STOP the drama! Move when God says move and stand when God says to stand. Let us learn that confusion is not of God. Our God is a God of decency and order. What drama are you causing in your own life? Are you using it to cover up lack of courage to move forward? God already knows. He's already led the way, just follow Him.


P.S. Get Your JOY In The Morning is Book Pick of the Week on the following website: http://phillybookpicks.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/book-pick-for-the-week-23-2/#comment-21069! If you've already read Get Your JOY In The Morning please go and rate it!! If you haven't but have thoughts on the book cover, your comments are still appreciated!! THANK YOU!!!