The Battle is the Lord’s

Serving GOD in today’s world can be extremely difficult at times. It seems as though the people around about us simply aren’t interested in hearing what we have to say nor are they concerned with what their future holds. It seems everyone is living for today and who cares about tomorrow.

Oftentimes, when you try to do things right in your life, those around you begin to speak negatively about you—trying to discourage and dishearten your attempts at living right. Too often it seems to be me against the rest of the world—do you feel that way sometimes?

About ten years ago, I had established a ministry focusing upon homeless people, addicts, street-people—people with life-controlling problems. The LORD prospered the ministry tremendously as we focused heavily upon the personal needs of the individual rather than following a bunch of rules and regulations. Many lives were being changed for good, Praise GOD!

However, the leaders in the city we were in at the time were not pleased with what was taking place. I was accused of drawing needy people from across America to our city because I was offering a free service for them.

The city began its process of shutting our ministry down through their various departments. After two years of struggles with the city, they finally won out and forced us from the location where we at. Many times during that two-year struggle, I felt so alone. I held on as long as I possibly could but eventually lost the battle. Overcome with exhaustion from the struggle, I entered into a dark time in my life. I simply gave up on everything for a time. I felt totally defeated.

While reading Jeremiah recently, I realized that no matter how difficult things may appear, we are never really going it alone in our battles. The LORD is always there. Jeremiah is a great example of this.

The LORD gave Jeremiah this command: “Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them. Today, I am the One who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land-against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population. They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you. This is the Lord’s declaration” (Jeremiah 1:17-19 HCSB).

Jeremiah was told to go and stand before the wicked king and the hostile people and speak truth. He was assured of the LORD’s presence and power. He was assured that they would fight against him but in the end he would win!

The same words stand true for all GOD’s people. The battle is His. The struggle is His. Stand up, be strong, speak truth! In the end, we will win by the power of Almighty GOD!

Scripture Reading: “You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever” (Psalm 44:4-8 HCSB).

Prayer: Father, my struggles in this life often overwhelm me. Too often, I find myself trying to go it alone rather than putting my trust in You and in Your ability. I pray that You will help me to understand You are always there for me regardless of the situation I may find myself in. I need You, Lord, to encourage me in those times when the outside forces are overcoming me. Help me to trust in You! The battle is Yours, Lord!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Life’s About Godly Living!

As King David neared the end of his life, he stepped back to assess his past. He certainly had an array of accomplishments he could brag about. He could’ve talked about the giant, the building of the greatest kingdom on earth, all the psalms he had written—he certainly had a list of accomplishments he could’ve patted himself on the back for. But, for him, what it came down to was simply the importance of having lived a Godly life.

Consider his words found in Psalm 37:23-25: “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread” (NLT).

His life began as a simple poor shepherd boy but GOD moved him to the most prominent position in the world. He had no military training or experience, yet he defeated the giants that arose before him. His education was limited but we still read and relish his Psalms and writings today.

David understood the importance of Godly living. In his final assessment of his life, he shared the importance of choosing Godly living over everything else. Those who do will find GOD leading and directing every aspect of their lives. The Godly will not stumble and fall by the wayside nor will they ever find themselves abandoned by Him. David is most remembered today by the phrase “a man after GOD’s own heart.”

When you step back and assess your own life, what do you see? Do you see a life spent stacking up a list of great achievements or do you see a life spent seeking to be Godly? Do you live your life telling everyone about all the great things you have done or do you spend your time glorifying GOD for all He has done? When it comes down to your final moment here on this earth, what will really matter? As you slip into eternity one day, what will matter most?

What matters most is how you have lived for the LORD. Living Godly is what life is truly all about! What will matter are the accomplishments you have allowed Him to perform in and through you. Step back and assess your life while you still have time—make necessary adjustments, redirect your motives and intentions, put GOD first in what you have left.

Scripture Reading: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I find as I look back on my past that I have spent a great deal of time trying to make a name for myself. I realize now that is not what it’s all about. I realize I am here to glorify You. I am here to point others to You not to what I have done. My achievements are insignificant and valueless in comparison to Your greatness. Help me to realign my thinking so I quit attempting to become great choosing rather for others to see Your greatness displayed in and through me. I love You and thank You for the work You continue to do in me. Please don’t stop!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

As You Prepare to Graduate!

It seems a great deal of your life is spent mapping out your future. In school, you are encouraged to be looking to your future. As you enter college, trade school or the work force, you begin putting into motion the thoughts and planning you have worked up over your past formative years.

But as you take a good, hard look at the world from outside the classroom, you begin to realize that things are a bit different than you had expected them to be. Employers aren’t knocking down your door trying to get you on-board. In fact, finding a meaningful job can be quite difficult at times. Frustration can set in. Discouragement can arise as you realize things aren’t as easy as you had thought they would be.

The problem with our world today is that we have been forced away from the main thing. You have been duped into believing that your education is going to take you to great places only to discover otherwise. When the federal government forced schools to adopt policies which eliminated GOD from the classroom, students were forced to accept their fate—that being that it is all up to you to make your future.

You must get back to truth. You must realize that there is a divine course of action going on in this world that will not be changed regardless of what man should decide to do. GOD has a plan that will be fulfilled. He also has a plan for you. He said: “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NET).

When you leave GOD out of the equation, you are left one wondering around, stumbling in a sea of untruth attempting to bring some order to the disorder—trying to plan for a future without a revelation of GOD’s true intent for you. Our world has disregarded GOD’s truth. We have been forced to accept the lie that this is it.

Hear me out, this is not it! GOD has great plans for those who will follow after Him. Those plans will probably look much different than you had imagined but GOD sees beyond today. He knows your tomorrow. He knows the potential of what you can become if you will only submit yourself completely over to following after His will.

As you prepare to graduate, choose GOD above all things! Choose His will, His path, His direction as you move forward into a world that lies unknown before you, but known well by the One who holds your tomorrow in His hands!

Scripture Reading: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (Psalm 3:5-7 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, as I prepare to graduate and move on in life, I pray that I will be ever mindful of You and of Your plans for my life. I pray that my heart and mind will remain steadfast upon You as I step into a world that is overwhelmed by ungodliness. Help me, LORD, to stay in Your Word and to assimilate it into my everyday life regardless of the challenges that may come. I trust in You to bring guidance and direction to all that I do. I love You!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Crushed to Perfection

I remember watching a pottery-maker skillfully create beautiful vessels out of a lump of chaos some years back. The artist would take a lump of clay, plop it on the potter’s wheel and before long an object of beauty and creativity would begin to appear.

But, there were times he apparently didn’t like what was happening and he would crush the vessel back into a lump of clay and start over. He was determined to create a vessel that he considered to be beautiful and perfect. I realized quickly that he was willing to crush his almost finished creation in order to create vessels of perfection.

As I was thinking about this, I began reading what the LORD had told Jeremiah concerning His people. He told Jeremiah to: “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there. So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over” (Jeremiah 18:1-4 NLT). When you consider He is talking about His own people, the actions seem a bit drastic? But GOD is willing to take drastic measures to create perfection.

I then considered the words of Solomon written in Ecclesiastes. Speaking about GOD, he said: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ec 3:11 NIV). I began to understand we serve a GOD who is not content with mediocre. He will take His creation and crush it over and again until He is satisfied with the outcome.

I began to consider my own life. I thought about all the times I ventured off on my own—doing my own thing. Have you ever been there? You begin to think you can do this thing called life on your own, only to find you really mess it up?

I would finally venture back to GOD and He would crush me back to a lump and begin once again shaping and molding. Life has taught me that GOD is not satisfied with mediocre. GOD desires to create beauty and excellence in all things. When you fail to be all GOD has created you to be and yet adopt an attitude of satisfaction, you are living outside GOD’s will and desire.

GOD is willing to take you as you are and crush you in order to bring out complete perfection in you. Quit being satisfied with less than the best. Allow GOD to do His work in you in order to create perfection and beauty.

Scripture Reading: “The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. The LORD rewarded me for doing right” (Psalm 18:20-24 NLT).

Prayer: Father, I know my life is not always pleasing to You. I know You seek to create something beautiful out of my life but I often find myself content to be less than the best I can be for You. Please forgive me. Please take my life, crush it if necessary, and bring forth an object that You consider to be beautiful and useful. I give myself over to Your will. Thank you, LORD, for loving me and caring about me even when I venture away from You. Thank you for drawing me back. I love You!…In Jesus’ name…AMEN!

One Piece at a Time!

Anyone who has ever put a large puzzle together realizes quickly the intense struggle of finding just the right piece out of that mess of pieces. Only one piece will fit into each slot but when that piece is found the whole of the picture becomes a bit more defined. Children will often get frustrated and try to force pieces where they don’t belong only to discover the picture is never revealed.

Our lives are much the same way. We are born into this world with the pieces of life thrown out on the table. As babies and young children, our parents have the responsibility to begin bringing order to the pieces—separating out the border pieces from the rest—laying a foundation for our life.

As we grow, we begin to slowly take over the lead in putting the pieces where they belong. We make mistakes and get frustrated and try to force pieces where they don’t belong as we allow the world’s influence to begin to trickle into our thinking.

Inside, we feel a tug from the Holy Spirit trying to get us to listen up and allow Him to step in and offer help by surrendering control of ourselves over to Jesus Christ. Some will soften their heart, listen and allow Christ to take over; others will continue to demand to do it on their own.

Those who follow Christ find He always knows where the pieces go. As He is allowed to take over, He begins to bring order as He creates a life filled with blessing and opportunity. However, those who determine to go it on their own find the struggles continue to intensify. Life becomes more difficult. Frustration builds as the pieces just don’t seem to fit.

While those who surrender to Christ continue to see the beauty of the picture of life developing before them; those who refuse become so frustrated by it all they eventually throw the pieces in the trash and storm off never discovering that GOD had something great for them.

GOD desires to speak life into you today. He wants you to hand control of yourself over to Him so He may establish you according to the special plans He has designed you for. He wants to take you and put your life together piece by piece—one piece at a time. His word to you is this: “I know the plans I have for you…plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). Let go and let GOD take control of you today!

Scripture Reading: “When you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you, says the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:12-14 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I have struggled through life trying to find answers, trying to find a path of satisfaction, trying to overcome the continual struggles and yet it all only seems to get more complicated. I try to fit another piece of my life’s puzzle into place only to discover it’s not the right one. Frustration has overwhelmed me. I have often heard You trying to offer help but have refused time and again, choosing rather to go it on my own. I have created a mess and I need Your help today. Father, cleanse me and purify me from my sins and selfish pride. I repent of my willfulness and the destruction it has brought to my life. Please take control of me today and create within me a clean heart and a right spirit according to Your will. Thank You!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Strayed Too Far?

Have you ever messed up really bad? You made some bad choices and ended up on a path you never intended to be on? Maybe you are on that path right now? You have been wondering down it for some time, wishing you could find the way back onto the right path? The struggles you are now going through—the complications you never expected—the lack of peace and security you once felt—they have become your life!

Jesus told a story about a young man with a dream to do life his own way. He came from a nice, secure home environment. He had everything he could ask for. Yet, there was this spirit of wildness in his heart that dreamed of getting more out of life. Maybe that’s you?

So, he took an early inheritance and headed out into the world. Things were going great until he woke up one morning to realize everything he had was gone. He had partied life away and now the party had taken his life away! He failed to realize all that he was losing along the way until all of a sudden, it was all gone!

That’s how Satan operates in your life if you allow him to. He makes life great as he draws you slowly away from the truth and then one day, you wake up to find you have lost everything—including life itself. Discouragement, depression, heartache and total despair—you traded in happiness and security for this! In your heart, you feel you have strayed too far to ever find the right path again.

But, there is good news; there is a Light at the end of the tunnel; there is a way out and a way back.  Jesus continued by saying: “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20 NLT). The story Jesus was sharing didn’t end in despair. The man came to his senses and returned to his father who was filled with love and compassion.

It doesn’t matter what you have done or even what you are doing right now. What matters is what you do about it before it takes your life. GOD is a loving Father waiting for you to come back to Him. His arms are open and His heart is filled with love and compassion for you. Run to Him today and re-discover the life He has for you.

Scripture Reading: “Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously” (Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT).

Prayer: Father, I have strayed from Your path. I have followed my own way for much too long and now I find myself entrapped in the life that my choices have given me. Please forgive me. Please cleanse my heart and life and draw me back into Your arms of love and compassion. Help me to follow after You in all things and in all ways. I love you!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

So Caught Up in Your Past You Can’t See Your Future!

How often do you sit with family and friends and just reminisce about the past? That’s what family reunions and get-togethers are all about. Certainly, the past can be awesome and awe-inspiring but it can also become a trap that prevents you from moving forward into greater things. You can get so caught up in your past; you can’t see your future!

I see people struggle through life because they refuse to accept necessary changes. I see churches stagnating and dying because “it’s always been done this way and it doesn’t need to be changed.” I see people get hurt by these attitudes and it grieves my heart.

While change is certainly painful; change is vital to growth. A seedling can never be productive if it simply remains a seedling. It must be planted so it can sprout and grow and fulfill its purpose. GOD wants His people to sprout, grow and fulfill their purpose.

In Isaiah, the LORD mentioned some of the great things He had done for Israel in their past. But, then He abruptly said to them: “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do” (Is 43:18 NLT).

He told them, you can’t move forward into the greater things I have for you if all you do is sit around reflecting on what you once were. Notice He didn’t say file those things away so you can bring them back up occasionally. He told them to forget about all that and move on. In other words, too much reflection on the past prevents forward movement into greater things!

Then He told them: “I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (v. 19). Maybe He speaking to you today? Maybe this word is targeting you? Maybe you are trapped in your past and need to move on?

Are there things in your past you are having trouble getting the victory over? Things in your past still haunting you and discouraging you? Problems, difficulties, bad situations—put them to death and move on—allow GOD to move your life forward into new things—new paths, new adventures, new opportunities—all of these offering greater things for you.

Pastor, maybe your church has stagnated and is dying? Maybe it’s time to release the past and move forward into the greatness GOD has for your future? Maybe it is time to move your people into greater, mightier works GOD has in store for you? Don’t get so caught up in your past you can’t see your future. Move forward in the name of Jesus Christ!

Scripture Reading: “But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3 NLT).

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I magnify You today for You alone are worthy of all my praise! I acknowledge that I have wasted a great deal of my life reflecting on my past achievements and in so doing, I have failed to achieve the greater heights You desire to take me to. Help me to bury my past and to move on into my future. Help me to put my trust in You and know that You are going to lead me places I never dreamed of. Take control of me today, LORD…I love you!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

FCC – Weslaco

Quit Fighting in Your Own Power!

What kind of struggles are you going through today? How long have you been struggling with the same issue, the same situation, the same circumstance? Just when you think you might be getting a break—feeling like you are about to overcome—the bottom falls out again. GOD has a word for you today? Quit fighting in your own power!

Think about this for a moment. Hordes of enemy soldiers were prepared to destroy Israel. Gideon summoned the Israelite army together in preparation for a battle. But, “The LORD said to Gideon, ‘You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength’” (Judges 7:2 NLT). How can you have too many warriors? What is GOD trying to prove? HE IS PROVING HE IS GOD!

In the midst of your problems and difficulties, GOD desires to be GOD! He doesn’t need your planning and preparation for the battles you are struggling through. He doesn’t need you to be trying to figure out how you are going to get through your problems. He wants you to quit fighting in your own power and to simply trust in Him.

When the odds are stacked against you—you stand ready for a GOD-thing to happen! When your troubles seem to have you beat—you stand ready for a GOD-thing! No matter what you are facing right now, GOD wants control of it so He can bring you through it in victory. GOD will bring you through to victory so others will know He is GOD!

Today is your day of victory. Lay your problems down before the LORD and walk away from them knowing He will take care of them all. QUIT FIGHTING IN YOUR OWN POWER!

Scripture Reading: “Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! The LORD has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!” (Psalm 98:1-2 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I have struggled hard and long with difficult problems and situations. I have been overwhelmed and defeated by them and their intensity gets me down so often. I pray that you will help me to understand that You are greater than all my problems. You are able to handle them all, if I will simply turn them over to You. Please help me, LORD! I love You and entrust my problems over to You today and I know that the victory is mine! Thank you so much…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!