"The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, 'Quick! Get up!' And the chains fell off his wrists."
Acts 12:6-7 NLT
Peter was about to be executed. He had been arrested for being a leader in the Christian movement. The night before his "trial" he was sleeping. But the Church was praying for his release. God hears the prayers of his people. He sent an angel to rescue Peter. Peter is rescued and the rest is history.
There are some truths that we should glean from this passage. The most obvious is that the Church was praying for Peter. The need for prayer and the power of prayer cannot be overemphasised. God's answer to his peoples prayer is evident. But I want us to focus on verse seven and three points of application.
1."The angel struck him on the side to awaken him." We must wake up. Peter had to wake up. So do we. Some of you are in bondage physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Those in the Church have been praying for your release. But you are asleep. You are dozing off. You are dozing in self pity, denial, complacency, fear, pain, and pride. It's time to wake up to the move of God in your life!
2. “Quick! Get up!” We need to get up. You need to wake up to the move of God in your life that wants to set you free. Then you must respond by getting up. Chose not to stay in your prison. Believe Christ has the power to set you free. In an act of faith stand up to your issues and get ready to leave your prison cell. Do it quickly. Do not linger in your bondage.
3. "And the chains fell off his wrists." It wasn't until Peter woke up and stood up that his chains fell off. We must believe that God hears and answers the prayers of his people. We must wake up to the reality of the bondage we are in. By faith in Jesus, we take a stand. Then the chains fall off and we walk in freedom.
"Father, I pray that we wake to your grace in our lives. I pray that we take s stand against our captor in the name and power of Jesus. I pray that as the chains fall off we will live in the freedom Christ brings us. With thankfulness and in the name of Jesus."
Amen!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Spiritual Training
"Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4 (New Century Version)
Today I caught my 9 year old in a lie. It was just a 'little lie,' but a lie nonetheless. He had it all justified in his 9 year old mind--he didn't want his older brother to get mad at him and take away the privilege of playing on his computer game.
So, here I am faced with this child of mine, with big crocodile tears running down his freckled face. I knew that I had to punish him for the lie, no matter how small. His spirit's fate depended on it. But, oh, how hard it was. So even though my mother's heart wanted to just hold him and dry his tears, I couldn't. I had to do the right thing--train him in the way of his & my Lord.
Just this past Sunday, Pastor Eric talked about this issue. Christian mothers having to be strong and consistent in the upbringing of our children. So, instead of his brother taking away the privilege, I had to.
Do you think your heavenly Father goes through this? When we stray, when we do wrong, when we sin against Him, He has to punish us. Does He enjoy punishing us? I truly don't think so. But, just as I had to tell Joey, if I didn't love him so much, I wouldn't punish Him. I wouldn't care how his spirit was being trained or what kind of man he would grow up becoming. It is because of my great love for him and for my Lord, that I have to. The same is with your God. If He didn't care about your spirit or your heart, He would just let you flounder through this world. But because of His great love, not only did He die for you, He punishes you when you do wrong so you have a lesson learned.
Is it easy being a godly parent? No! But is it worth it? Most definitely yes. When you hear your child talk God--it makes a parent's spiritual heart explode. Your God has the same feelings--when you get the picture and finally catch the lesson learned--is He proud of you? You better believe it!
Today I caught my 9 year old in a lie. It was just a 'little lie,' but a lie nonetheless. He had it all justified in his 9 year old mind--he didn't want his older brother to get mad at him and take away the privilege of playing on his computer game.
So, here I am faced with this child of mine, with big crocodile tears running down his freckled face. I knew that I had to punish him for the lie, no matter how small. His spirit's fate depended on it. But, oh, how hard it was. So even though my mother's heart wanted to just hold him and dry his tears, I couldn't. I had to do the right thing--train him in the way of his & my Lord.
Just this past Sunday, Pastor Eric talked about this issue. Christian mothers having to be strong and consistent in the upbringing of our children. So, instead of his brother taking away the privilege, I had to.
Do you think your heavenly Father goes through this? When we stray, when we do wrong, when we sin against Him, He has to punish us. Does He enjoy punishing us? I truly don't think so. But, just as I had to tell Joey, if I didn't love him so much, I wouldn't punish Him. I wouldn't care how his spirit was being trained or what kind of man he would grow up becoming. It is because of my great love for him and for my Lord, that I have to. The same is with your God. If He didn't care about your spirit or your heart, He would just let you flounder through this world. But because of His great love, not only did He die for you, He punishes you when you do wrong so you have a lesson learned.
Is it easy being a godly parent? No! But is it worth it? Most definitely yes. When you hear your child talk God--it makes a parent's spiritual heart explode. Your God has the same feelings--when you get the picture and finally catch the lesson learned--is He proud of you? You better believe it!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Power of a Name
"Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory."
1 John 5:4 CEV
Were you ever that little child on the school playground that everyone would pick on? The bullies would mess with your locker, the girls would giggle behind your back? Or were you the only Christian in your family and whenever the T.V. evangelists would come on, they would mock you, saying, "there's your religion!"
There are many ways that we, as children of God, have been crucified for our faith--our belief. Of course, not to the extreme that our Lord Jesus has, but crucified all the same.
Sometimes it can make you feel so lonely. It can make you feel unloved and a 'weirdo'. Do what's right anyway. Remember that your Heavenly Father lives inside of you and with Him on your side, does anything else matter?
Doesn't it give you such peace to know that if you are a child of Christ, you will have victory over all the earth? That no matter what the world or Satan throws at you, that you will be victorious through your Heavenly Father? You don't need prestige, you don't need to buy yourself out of trouble, you don't need to be devious. All you need to do is call on the holy name of your Lord and Savior and you will be victorious.
The power of a name--Jesus Christ. Please use it humbly and often.
1 John 5:4 CEV
Were you ever that little child on the school playground that everyone would pick on? The bullies would mess with your locker, the girls would giggle behind your back? Or were you the only Christian in your family and whenever the T.V. evangelists would come on, they would mock you, saying, "there's your religion!"
There are many ways that we, as children of God, have been crucified for our faith--our belief. Of course, not to the extreme that our Lord Jesus has, but crucified all the same.
Sometimes it can make you feel so lonely. It can make you feel unloved and a 'weirdo'. Do what's right anyway. Remember that your Heavenly Father lives inside of you and with Him on your side, does anything else matter?
Doesn't it give you such peace to know that if you are a child of Christ, you will have victory over all the earth? That no matter what the world or Satan throws at you, that you will be victorious through your Heavenly Father? You don't need prestige, you don't need to buy yourself out of trouble, you don't need to be devious. All you need to do is call on the holy name of your Lord and Savior and you will be victorious.
The power of a name--Jesus Christ. Please use it humbly and often.
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Pond of Life
"But Jesus spoke to them at once. 'Don’t be afraid,' he said. 'Take courage. I am here!'
Then Peter called to him, 'Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.' 'Yes, come,' Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. 'You have so little faith,' Jesus said. 'Why did you doubt me?' When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped." Matthew 14:27-32 NLT
Sometimes when we are going through trials and tribulations, we tend to get nervous, uncertain what to do next or where to go. We are in the pond of life and the waves are coming at us. But if we have a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, we should be able to walk on top of the waves, water. The water in this verse can resemble our life's journey--the waves, it's troubles.
If we call upon our Lord, if we have faith in Him and His ability to care for us, we will always walk on top of the water. It's when we start to doubt His commitment to us and we start to try to help ourselves that we start sinking. Sinking into the muck and mire of self-doubt, self-help and self-reliance. We can't do 'self.' There is no room in your Christian walk for 'self' doing. It is selfish and unproductive.
As long as you have your focus on Jesus and His influence in your life, no matter what happens, what wave, what ripple, mares the surface of your pond of life--you won't succumb to the hopeless of life. Living a God-centered, God-controlled life will give you a guarantee of success.
Do you remember the song, "Standing on the Promises of God?" It's not just a song you know. It true. You can stand on the promises of your God. There is a book full of them that He has written just for you--it's called the Bible. All you have to do is open it, read the words on the pages, accept them in your heart and believe them in your soul.
The Bible--when your pond is full of waves, it's your life boat--reach out and grasp it with all your might and never let go.
Then Peter called to him, 'Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.' 'Yes, come,' Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. 'You have so little faith,' Jesus said. 'Why did you doubt me?' When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped." Matthew 14:27-32 NLT
Sometimes when we are going through trials and tribulations, we tend to get nervous, uncertain what to do next or where to go. We are in the pond of life and the waves are coming at us. But if we have a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, we should be able to walk on top of the waves, water. The water in this verse can resemble our life's journey--the waves, it's troubles.
If we call upon our Lord, if we have faith in Him and His ability to care for us, we will always walk on top of the water. It's when we start to doubt His commitment to us and we start to try to help ourselves that we start sinking. Sinking into the muck and mire of self-doubt, self-help and self-reliance. We can't do 'self.' There is no room in your Christian walk for 'self' doing. It is selfish and unproductive.
As long as you have your focus on Jesus and His influence in your life, no matter what happens, what wave, what ripple, mares the surface of your pond of life--you won't succumb to the hopeless of life. Living a God-centered, God-controlled life will give you a guarantee of success.
Do you remember the song, "Standing on the Promises of God?" It's not just a song you know. It true. You can stand on the promises of your God. There is a book full of them that He has written just for you--it's called the Bible. All you have to do is open it, read the words on the pages, accept them in your heart and believe them in your soul.
The Bible--when your pond is full of waves, it's your life boat--reach out and grasp it with all your might and never let go.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Quiet Time
"But Jesus would often go to some place where he could be alone and pray." Luke 5:16 CEV
When was the last time that you allowed yourself to have quiet time with your Lord? No, I mean it--true quiet time? Time that is just for you and Him. Time when you are not looking at your watch every 20 minutes. Time when you are all tensed up because you have to get this done. All relationships need some one-on-one, focus on each other time. Why do we not think our relationship with our Father would be any different?
We keep ourselves so busy. We barely have time to do what we need to do--but this is one area that we, you, should not fudge on. It puts everything in alignment when you do. It should be a time when you can sit and just be. It may be when you have your Bible in hand. It may be when you are on your knees praying. It may be when you are just sitting. Sitting with nothing on the radio or T.V. Listening with your spirit to the words of your Father. Feeling the presence of Him wrapping Himself around you.
Quiet time can take many forms and there is no wrong or right one. You may experience a different form each time you have one. The only wrong one is not having one.
If it was important enough for Jesus to do, shouldn't that tell us that it is important for you?
When was the last time that you allowed yourself to have quiet time with your Lord? No, I mean it--true quiet time? Time that is just for you and Him. Time when you are not looking at your watch every 20 minutes. Time when you are all tensed up because you have to get this done. All relationships need some one-on-one, focus on each other time. Why do we not think our relationship with our Father would be any different?
We keep ourselves so busy. We barely have time to do what we need to do--but this is one area that we, you, should not fudge on. It puts everything in alignment when you do. It should be a time when you can sit and just be. It may be when you have your Bible in hand. It may be when you are on your knees praying. It may be when you are just sitting. Sitting with nothing on the radio or T.V. Listening with your spirit to the words of your Father. Feeling the presence of Him wrapping Himself around you.
Quiet time can take many forms and there is no wrong or right one. You may experience a different form each time you have one. The only wrong one is not having one.
If it was important enough for Jesus to do, shouldn't that tell us that it is important for you?
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Lesson of the Ladybug
"So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!" Psalm 31:24 NLT
Yesterday I was sitting in the sun and noticed the ladybugs. They were doing what ladybugs do best--climbing and crawling and then flying away. Well, this one ladybug that was closest to me was doing that--except whenever they tried to fly away--WHAM, they would hit the blade of grass right next door. They weren't gliding gracefully to the forest of grass a few feet away like the other ladybugs were.
So, what did she do? Did she give up? No! She, (and it was a she because this ladybug had spots, and you know that's the rule. Spots, girl. No spots, boy), climbed up to the top of this blade and flew. Again, WHAM. Hit the blade just next door. Now this blade was a little taller, but not quite tall enough.
Well, this happened about four times. And each time, it landed on a blade that was a little taller, but not quite tall enough to get her out of the forest so she could fly free. On the fifth try, I could see that she was going to make it because it was the tallest blade in the grove. And she did. She got the the very top of that blade, spread her red wings and flew gracefully to the next forest of blades.
The Lord spoke to me. He said that is how we are to Him at times. Especially when we first come to Him. But it can also happen at various times during our relationship adventure with Him. We know what we are supposed to do. It's instinct. But things can get in our way. It could be bad choices, the wrong mind set, attitude, or just pure ignorance. Whatever it is, it can cause us to not be where or what God wants us to be. Like the ladybug, we instinctly know what we should do, but there are obstacles in our way.
Do you give up? NO! Through the obstacles, the Lord will strengthen you and guide you until, at the point when you are ready, He will allow you to get to the very top of your blade of grass and fill your wings with grace, courage, a little more wisdom and beauty indescribable to the naked eye--and set you gliding to the next station in life He has planned for you. Isn't that so humbling awesome?
So, whenever you think that this Christian 'thing' is too hard. That you weren't cut out for being one of God's chosen--Remember, two things. First and foremost, He had chosen you before you were even born. Secondly, you are not alone. If it came too easily, the gift of grace wouldn't have been needed.
Think of these things the next time you see a ladybug. Your Lord is everywhere!
all you who put your hope in the Lord!" Psalm 31:24 NLT
Yesterday I was sitting in the sun and noticed the ladybugs. They were doing what ladybugs do best--climbing and crawling and then flying away. Well, this one ladybug that was closest to me was doing that--except whenever they tried to fly away--WHAM, they would hit the blade of grass right next door. They weren't gliding gracefully to the forest of grass a few feet away like the other ladybugs were.
So, what did she do? Did she give up? No! She, (and it was a she because this ladybug had spots, and you know that's the rule. Spots, girl. No spots, boy), climbed up to the top of this blade and flew. Again, WHAM. Hit the blade just next door. Now this blade was a little taller, but not quite tall enough.
Well, this happened about four times. And each time, it landed on a blade that was a little taller, but not quite tall enough to get her out of the forest so she could fly free. On the fifth try, I could see that she was going to make it because it was the tallest blade in the grove. And she did. She got the the very top of that blade, spread her red wings and flew gracefully to the next forest of blades.
The Lord spoke to me. He said that is how we are to Him at times. Especially when we first come to Him. But it can also happen at various times during our relationship adventure with Him. We know what we are supposed to do. It's instinct. But things can get in our way. It could be bad choices, the wrong mind set, attitude, or just pure ignorance. Whatever it is, it can cause us to not be where or what God wants us to be. Like the ladybug, we instinctly know what we should do, but there are obstacles in our way.
Do you give up? NO! Through the obstacles, the Lord will strengthen you and guide you until, at the point when you are ready, He will allow you to get to the very top of your blade of grass and fill your wings with grace, courage, a little more wisdom and beauty indescribable to the naked eye--and set you gliding to the next station in life He has planned for you. Isn't that so humbling awesome?
So, whenever you think that this Christian 'thing' is too hard. That you weren't cut out for being one of God's chosen--Remember, two things. First and foremost, He had chosen you before you were even born. Secondly, you are not alone. If it came too easily, the gift of grace wouldn't have been needed.
Think of these things the next time you see a ladybug. Your Lord is everywhere!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Farmer
"Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8 (The Message)
I come from a long line of farmers. My grandfather was a farmer & rancher, his father, my great grandfather was a farmer/rancher. I love to grow things and have tried to install in our boys the love of the feel of the dirt in their hands and the excitement of taking something as small as a little black seed and get a watermelon.
Not all of us are farmers of the land. But we are all planters of the spirit. We all have the ability to plant seeds of encouragement, wisdom and love. We all have the ability to raise someone's self-esteem, make the weight of their life that is on their shoulders, lighter, help the unloved to feel loved.
It doesn't take a talent. It doesn't take a college course or a BA degree. All it takes is a little bit of time of unfocusing on ourselves and focusing on someone else. Of seeing someone or a situation from God's perspective and see the potental. It takes empathy. Compassion.
It seems that we sometimes turn a blind to the empathy/compassion part of our Christian walk. After all, you are so very busy. Your calendar is packed full. And anyway, aren't there county-runned programs that help people? There's the Salvation Army, Manna House, Red Cross. And while these are wonderful agencies, they cannot--and should not--take away our Christian responsibility of planting compassion, empathy and good old fashioned brotherly/sisterly love.
Jesus is our true example. He sowed these exact seeds in every situation He came into. The woman with the bleeding problem. The man on the stretcher, being let down through the roof. The woman at the well. The blind man. The man with leprosy. The robber hanging on the cross next to Him. The list could go on.
I dare you! I lovingly dare you to be a farmer in the field that your Heavenly Father has commissioned you to plant. A quick word to the wise--you are always commissioned to plant, but you may not always see your harvest. So, please don't be discouraged. Remember, on a farm there are many farmhands.
I come from a long line of farmers. My grandfather was a farmer & rancher, his father, my great grandfather was a farmer/rancher. I love to grow things and have tried to install in our boys the love of the feel of the dirt in their hands and the excitement of taking something as small as a little black seed and get a watermelon.
Not all of us are farmers of the land. But we are all planters of the spirit. We all have the ability to plant seeds of encouragement, wisdom and love. We all have the ability to raise someone's self-esteem, make the weight of their life that is on their shoulders, lighter, help the unloved to feel loved.
It doesn't take a talent. It doesn't take a college course or a BA degree. All it takes is a little bit of time of unfocusing on ourselves and focusing on someone else. Of seeing someone or a situation from God's perspective and see the potental. It takes empathy. Compassion.
It seems that we sometimes turn a blind to the empathy/compassion part of our Christian walk. After all, you are so very busy. Your calendar is packed full. And anyway, aren't there county-runned programs that help people? There's the Salvation Army, Manna House, Red Cross. And while these are wonderful agencies, they cannot--and should not--take away our Christian responsibility of planting compassion, empathy and good old fashioned brotherly/sisterly love.
Jesus is our true example. He sowed these exact seeds in every situation He came into. The woman with the bleeding problem. The man on the stretcher, being let down through the roof. The woman at the well. The blind man. The man with leprosy. The robber hanging on the cross next to Him. The list could go on.
I dare you! I lovingly dare you to be a farmer in the field that your Heavenly Father has commissioned you to plant. A quick word to the wise--you are always commissioned to plant, but you may not always see your harvest. So, please don't be discouraged. Remember, on a farm there are many farmhands.
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