Backward By Design

"Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life"-Revelation 22:17 (NIV).

Jesus is the Giver of the water that permanently quenches thirst, becoming a spring of water within, giving eternal life (John 4:14). The consumer's cost: free. That's why Jesus came (John 3:16). God is infinitely good. His love never fails...He will pursue you your entire life (Psalm 23:6). Those who listen, who turn and accept His advances, will live (John 5:25), because He is the resurrection, He is life eternal (11:25). Oh, to fully realize, to be able to mentally grasp, how wide and long and high and deep is the love Jesus has for us. It is beyond our understanding (Ephesians 3:18-19). Thank God, He is patient and wants us all, each and everyone, to come (2 Peter 3:9). Oh Lord, we should be pursuing You! 

GPS Guidance

"Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long"-Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV).

Do you sometimes feel like you're not sure you know where you are going? I'm so thankful for the GPS (Global Positioning System); especially the ones that talks to you! We have a spiritual GPS system, too (God's Positioning System), ensuring our paths will be made straight if we trust and acknowledge God (Proverbs 3:5-6) and He will instruct us which path to follow (Psalm 32:8). If we turn the wrong way, we will hear Him whisper in our ear to change our direction (Isaiah 30:21). We seek is to find God, to be in His presence, to sing His praises...to be home. Listen, God will show us the way...He is the Way...and the Light (John 14:6).. And as we walk the path He has chosen for us, we are to walk as His children...children of the Light (Ephesians 5:8). 

The Power of One Word

“No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—that he should live on forever and not see decay”-Psalm 49:7-9 (NIV).

You can’t pay the price for others to enter into everlasting life.  There’s not enough money in the world!  When you accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit (the down payment from God), entered your body.  You no longer belong to yourself; you are bought at an exorbitant price.  You belong to God and you are a new creation (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17).  Jesus said “it is finished” and gave up his Spirit (John 19:30).  “It” is a small word…but those two letters represent the greatest single act of love the world has ever seen.  You can share the good news about “it,” but you can’t give “it.”  Jesus is the [only] Way (John 14: 6). 

Body Parts

"Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion...If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men"- Romans 12:16, 18 (NKJV).

The Pharisees must have been a less than humble lot. They would take the best seats wherever they went and expected to be recognized out in public (Luke 11:43). We aren't to set our minds on this type of achievement; instead, we are to be live in harmony with others and make an effort to be holy...or we will never see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). The Bible warns against selfish ambition, vanity, and conceit and encourages us to be humble and place more value on others than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). That is the way we mature in our Christian walk, taking our place within the body of Christ, Who is the Head, and strengthening ourselves in truth and love, as each Body member does their work (Ephesians 4:15-16). 

Sweet Dreams

"When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet"-Proverbs 3:24 (NIV).

"Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep" is the well known bedtime prayer of children. Sleeping children look so peaceful...like little angels. It's comforting to think our Heavenly Father looks at us in the same way. Praise the Lord who sustains us as we sleep (Psalm 3:5) and instructs our hearts during the night (Psalm 16:7). He sings over us and we awake with His song (Psalm 42:8), for He grants sleep to those He loves (Psalm 127:2). A rain shadow is when a tall mountain protects the land on the lee side from the coming storms. The lee side is the sheltered side...the side resting in the shadow. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). Sweet dreams! 

From the Lips of God

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose"-Philippians 2:13 (NIV).

Before you were born, God called you and even now He mentions you by name (Isaiah 49:1). Isn't is comforting to know God's lips have uttered your name?  There is always concern that we won't fulfill His purpose for us, but today's Scripture declares it is God who puts the desire to act according to His purpose in us. It's not by our own wisdom, strength, or talent. Praise the Lord! We can't take credit; all the glory and honor is His. It is God who leads us down the right path (Psalm 23:3). So, trust the Lord with all of your heart. Don't try to understand (Proverbs 3:5), for Scripture says it pleases our heavenly Father to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32). Thank God for His indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

Epiphany

"This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: That they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord"-Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV).

Typically, we view boasting as a negative display of prideful bragging. Boasting about knowing God is not an idle boast. God delights in your boastfulness of knowing Him! First you have to acquire the "understanding to know Him." You'll hear people say they've had an epiphany. The definition is the sudden manifestation of the essential nature and meaning of something (or in this case, Someone). An epiphany is an illuminating awakening! Put another way: By the sudden discovery of who God is, that proverbial light bulb above your head turns on and Illuminating Light enters your life. You were blind and now you see. Suddenly, the negative boasting of your wisdom, strength, and riches, become nothing...You know God.      

Signs

"I have become a sign to many; You are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with Your praise, declaring Your splendor all day long"-Psalm 71:7-8 (NIV).

The purpose of a sign is to inform individuals about safety, direction, warnings, and advertising. The wonder of your transformation is a sign to the world. You are a message to help others believe (Mark 16:17-18) and people demand a sign in order to believe (John 4:48). The devil is well aware of the need for signs and will send false messiahs and prophets to deceive (Matthew 24:24). Deuteronomy 13:1 warns us to beware of those who show signs which compromise our safety, send us in the wrong direction, and allow us to fall without warning. There are empty signs, with no message, which say "sign for rent." What message does your sign declare when people look at you and your life? Does your message reflect splendor or "sign for rent"? 

Never Give Up

 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”-2 Corinthians 9:8.

The Word today is to never give up.  When you cry, “I can’t do this”…God says, “I am able.”  Our Father gives such wonderful gifts.  The glory is His, so we can never boast that our accomplishments are of our own making; speaking volumes of His love for us.  Without God, we are nothing, but with God, we can do all things.  Here’s a question: What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?  How big of a dream can you dream?  What obstacles are keeping you frozen in your path?  I can tell you; if there are obstacles, they aren’t from God.  The devil, that great deceiver, wants to keep you from doing the remarkable work God has intended you to do; that He chose you to do before you were ever created.  So, what are you waiting for?    

Trip of a Life Time

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”-1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV).

You’ve heard people say, “I thought I had seen it all…” or “I thought I had heard it all…”  Well, no one has ever seen it all or heard it all!  God created man’s mind to be creative.  Look at some of the things man has been able to conceive: breaking the sound barrier, Internet and smart phones, going to the moon.  Heaven is a place beyond what our mind can conceive.  People put so much time and effort into planning their trips.  This final trip, is the trip of a life time, promising sights and sounds beyond our imagination, and God has already made all the arrangements!  God has each of us here for a purpose and when the purpose is served, well, my bags are packed.     

What God Wants

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work"-2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV).

God provides not only food, clothing, shelter, and other basic needs (Matthew 6:25-34), He provides "all grace" in "all things" at "all times." He is our "all powerful," "all knowing," "all present" Heavenly Father. And in "all things" God works for the good of His chosen (Romans 8:28); coming so that you would have "all that you need" for an abundantly full life (John 10:10). What can you give in return for God's "all?" Give Him your "all." Love Him with "all your heart," "all your soul," and "all your mind" (Luke 10:27). That's "all" He asks of you.  

Believe it. Live it.

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand"-John 10:28 (NIV).

You are who God says you are. You are His (Isaiah 43:1), His adopted child, chosen (Ephesians 1:3-8), and now a member of His body (1 Corinthians 12:27). You can't be separated from Him (Romans 8:31-39) and as a citizen of His kingdom (Philippians 3:20), Jesus our King protects us. Buddy Owens, pastor of Saddleback Church says, "God is asking you to believe He is who He says He is, believe you are who He says you are, and then live like you believe those things." So, don't conform to this world, instead, be transformed (Romans 12:2). You are loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Believe it. Live it.