Depending On You

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Ephesians 6:10

One of the reoccurring missteps I make as a Christian is becoming way too self-reliant after experiencing a little success.  This mistake is one that is easy to make as a believer in the body of faith, as it is totally unnatural to live in total dependence on God. Think about how many self-help books you can find at any given bookstore...placing dependence on God goes against everything that the world tells us we need to do.

The truth of the matter is that we are in the midst of a spiritual battle while we are here on this earth; life will be a struggle until we draw our last breath and spend eternity in heaven.

The number one rule of engagement in our spiritual battle is to draw our strength from God.  While it seems simple, our natural default mode is to depend on ourselves and not on Him.

We must prepare and equip ourselves daily by prayer and staying grounded in His Word. If we are to bear spiritual fruit, we cannot rely on our own limited resources and strength; we must tap into God's never-ending strength and resources and essentially die to ourselves.

It's the only way we can win and survive; be strong in His mighty power!!

Enjoy The Silence

He makes me lie down in fresh, tender green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.  Psalm 23:2

Every fall, particularly Q4 in the employee benefits arena, things move at a breakneck pace.  Most employers want their benefit plans to start and renew at the beginning of the fiscal year and our work load has increased exponentially this year with many employers facing double digit rate increases on their group medical renewals paired with the continued implosion of the industry due to failed ACA regulations, so needless to say, I have felt a bit overwhelmed at work recently... 

Being so busy, it’s hard for me to even imagine the “still and restful waters” mentioned in the above Psalm.  Regardless, I know that the “still waters” are where I need to go to truly begin to find quiet rest and the strength that I need to face the pressures of life.

The “still waters” are healing waters that are available to all believers at any place or any time, but rarely do we ever go there.

The next time you are feeling the need to find rest for your soul, let everything get quiet and enjoy the beauty of solitude, if only for a few moments.  We can learn more in moment of silence than we ever possibly could in all of the noise of the world.

Spend more time in the still waters and enjoy peace and rest for your soul.

Glory

No unbelief or distrust made him(Abraham) waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God.  Romans 4:20

God promised Abraham a child that was to be an heir from his own body.  Of course, Abraham was an elderly man before he saw God’s promises finally come to pass.  All the while, Abraham continued to stand firm in his faith and believed God’s promises, giving Him all of his praises and glory along the way.

God would never expect us to do something without giving us the ability to do it.  Satan knows this all too well and this is the reason he attacks us, so that we feel doubt and unbelief.

Keep pressing on, no matter where you are on your journey and be sure keep on praising God and give Him glory.  God will never leave His promises unfulfilled and your faith will grow along the way, making you stronger so that can overcome.

Cry For Help

Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.  Psalm 55:22

 

The deeper my relationship grows with the Lord, the more I realize that He simply wants to care for me and help me whenever I ask.  Knowing this, why is it difficult to ask God for help sometimes?

You see, when we bring our burdens to God through prayer, we experience freedom from worry and anxiousness because we know that He is listening and He cares-regardless of how little or large our burdens may be.

We can receive the assurance of God’s love and concern through the promises of His Word and on our knees in prayer.

Love Is The Answer

 

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.  Psalm 128:1

The more I age, the more I realize that there is not one person on this earth that could possibly meet all of my needs in life.  Alicia and I will celebrate our 14th anniversary this December, and while we are partners for life, soulmates, and still in love, we both understand that only Jesus can fill the void deep within our souls.

This thinking has certainly changed for me as I have matured in my walk of faith.  Our spouses, children, family, and friends simply cannot take God’s place in meeting our needs; regardless of how wonderful they are.  

If you are looking to other people to meet all of your needs or trying to meet someone else’s needs, you will be sorely disappointed by looking to anyone other than God.  God is love, and only He can truly meet our every need!

Knock Me Down

Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time, He will lift you up in honor. 1 Peter 5:6

It was not too terribly long ago that I was extremely overweight and burned out from years of substance abuse.  I was lonely, on the verge of depression; my life was wrecked.  It was also not until I finally accepted the fact that I had some problems before I humbled myself and eventually asked for some help. 

Pride can prevent you from asking for the help that you need.  Humility gives you the wisdom and courage to admit your needs in any situation.  You simply won't get help-from God or from any other family member or friend-if you cannot admit you have a problem. 

When you are humble, God's power is at your disposal, and He promises to help you, regardless of any situation.  Don't let our pride stop you from getting the help you need.

Man In The Mirror

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. Galatians 6:4

I was listening to a popular college football talk show on my way home from work yesterday and heard a coach describe how he instills values in his players.  To paraphrase, the coach something to the effect of, "if each member of this team is committed to being their best and committed to this team being the best, it doesn't matter who or what team we are playing."  What great and practical advice that can be applied in our everyday lives, hence the reason college football must surely be 'God's sport!'

Seriously, people often get stressed out when they take on activities and responsibilities for the wrong reasons.  Trust me, I have been there and it's taken me most of my adult life to be able to say "No," when I feel I am over-committing myself.

When we are considering upcoming involvements, be sure to seek God and ask Him to help you do things with the right motives.  God will help you make wiser decisions as to which activities you should commit to and the ones you should say no to.

It's only when we do things with the right motives that we will be able to work with passion and purpose and find satisfaction in a job well done!

The Power of Equality

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.  Romans 3:22

There are few things in life other than, say, oxygen, that are available to all people. The great thing about God is that salvation is available to all people.

It makes no difference to God what sins you have committed.  It does not matter who you are.  God loves all people equally and wants each one of us to be saved and live with him eternally in heaven.

When we decide that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and we ask for forgiveness of our sins, we are transformed into a new creation.  In God's eyes we become clean and pure again, just like everyone who believes.

We must share this with all people and love them into a relationship with Christ, to expand God's kingdom on this earth.

Even in the Quietest Moments

When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.  Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  Matthew 6:6

I sometimes have a hard time finding quiet moments to spend alone with God.  It’s hard with two young boys (ages 12 and 9) around and especially during the hustle and bustle of each work day.  To make matters worse, I really dig music and very rarely have the discipline enough to turn the stereo off when I am driving in the car, so I always feel somewhat distracted. 

One of the characteristics of Jesus is that He would often go off to be alone to pray, especially after performing miracles or teaching a group of disciples.  He was onto something and we all should make the time to spend quiet moments alone with God.

God's voice is often hard to hear and discern through all of the noise and distractions of this world.  We must give Him our time, focus, and undivided attention, just as Jesus did.

Outside and Inside

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.  Romans 8:37

Some people go to great lengths to try to live their lives 'problem free.'  There are many who mistakenly think that the only way to victory is to somehow avoid problems all together.

True victory for a Believer comes from having peace while in the midst of a raging storm.  We have to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus and not our circumstances and our key to victory is understanding that peace can only come from "Him who loved us."

We must trust God and allow Him to strengthen us from the inside-out.  When we are strong in Christ we can defeat anything that comes against us and march on to victory!

Ask

To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…be glory.  Ephesians 3:20-21

Our boys both really enjoy playing video games.  Our oldest son, Elliott, asked to play the Xbox the other night, so I let him play a couple of games before bedtime.  I was talking on the phone and lost track of time, so he got to play a little longer than I intended him to.  When I asked him to turn the game console off, he became outraged because he would have played ‘Fortnight’ all night long if I would have let him.  The more I think about it, we treat God pretty much the same with what we ask of Him too...especially if we do not get our way.

We forget what Paul mentioned in his letter to the Ephesians, that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”  In the most simple of terms, we cannot possibly begin to ask for all that God desires to give us.  We cannot fathom all that He has to give us and I’d like to think that I have a pretty vivid imagination.

How awesome is it to think that we cannot even begin to imagine all that is contained in God’s endless and abundant riches?! Praise be to God!

'40'

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.  He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.  Psalm 40:2

The other night, I was feeling worn down and very anxious after looking at my calendar.  It has been busy few weeks at between work and other obligations and it's only just begun as this time of the year is pretty crazy with peak open enrollment season kicking into high gear.  With football season also a few weeks in, I am also really missing my mother, as I could always pick up the phone and call her to laugh about the state of our beloved Auburn Tigers, no matter how good or bad they have been playing. (At least our defense looks solid this season!)

I found myself reaching out to pray to Jesus, but just didn't have many words to say. Despite everything going on in my life, the good still far outweighs the bad and I know that God has been by my side and will continue to remain by my side through it all.  

In times of difficulty, we must remember that God is always with each of us. God promises to carry us through whatever we face and He will always give us firm footing on the other side.  God never leaves our side and He will continue to walk with us as we wade through the aftermath-no matter what we are facing.

When faced with hard times, is God the first one you look to for help?

Just Between You and Me

The earnest heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available dynamic in its working.  James 5:16

Pondering how quickly time seems to be flying by these days, I reflected back on a tough decision that I had to make earlier this year that, at the time, seemed to be so daunting that it loomed over me for several weeks.  I admit that I was even afraid as I am prone to being resistant to change.  Looking back, it really was not a big deal, but I sure made it out to be one.

God wants us to pray about everything and wants us to fear nothing.  I had to face my fears, but all God wanted me to do was to put my faith in Him to resolve the situation.  Just as He always does, He came through and delivered in His perfect timing.

What a blessing it is to know that God cares about every situation we face-the big and the small, the good and the bad.  Our part is to pray and God will provide us with the strength and power to meet our needs.

Regret

For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief is deadly.  2 Corinthians 7:10

Can you recall something hurtful that you have said to someone else that you wish you could take back?  Sure, we all do, but some of us continue to let regret rob us of all of our joy.

There are certainly some things I wish that I could have said or done differently. But there is no sense in becoming burdened with regret over something I have absolutely no power to change.

God will always warn us prior to making a mistake or saying something hurtful so that we can change our mind before we actually make the mistake.  The enemy waits until after we have already made the mistake, long after it's too late, to heap condemnation and regret on us after there is nothing we can do about it any longer.

We must not let the enemy steal our joy any longer.  We must ask God for forgiveness and then leave our regrets in the past.

Fly Like An Eagle

Those who wait for the Lord…shall change and renew their strength…they shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles…they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.  Isaiah 40:31

The Bible makes several references to eagles, the most powerful winged creatures on earth, and there are many lessons we can learn from them as well.  Unlike other birds, eagles do not run from a storm-they simply allow the powerful winds to lift them above it.  When attacked, an eagle will not battle another bird, they simply mount up higher, soaring above their enemy.

Just like an eagle, we too must learn to fly.  We must seek God, know Him, and ultimately trust Him, so that we can rise above the storms or attacks that happen during our lifetime.  When we walk with the Lord, we can soar like an eagle, without growing weary or tired!  Praise be to God!

It's Love

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God ; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  1 John 4: 7-8

By the time I finally graduated from Auburn University, I struggled with accepting the fact that God actually loved me.  I had done everything I could to run as far away from Him as possible and lived to tell about it.  The constant partying, the unabashed selfishness, the self-inflicted anger, hurt, guilt, and pain left me feeling like God couldn't possibly love me in the 'broken' state that I was in.

The more I read the Bible, the more it became clearly apparent that God loved me; He always has and always will.  I began to notice this beautiful world that we live in and understand that He created each of us with a need for His love.  There is nothing we can possibly substitute for our basic need to have God’s never-ending and perfect love.

There are times you may feel unworthy of His love just like I once did.  The truth of the matter is that no one is worthy of God’s love.

The good news is that His love is not based on whether we are deserving or not, He loves us unconditionally, and it’s hard to fathom from our limited perspective.

Always Something There To Remind Me

You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head…I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!  Psalm 139: 5-7

The deeper my relationship with God grows and the stronger I my faith becomes, I am more aware of His presence around me at all times.  God’s Word promises each of us that when we have a relationship with God, His presence is always with us.

The people that we meet and the events that take place in our lives simply do not happen by chance.  For instance, you could meet someone at a random place, such as the gym or at a restaurant, and being aware that God is always present, you must look beyond the surface to see if God has placed this person in your path for a specific reason.   The same holds true for events.   Seasons of waiting help refine our faith and while God rarely answers our prayers in the ways we want, He never fails to answer them in the ways that we need.

When you believe this promise of His presence, you will experience His love for you and receive His many blessings

Baby, You're A Rich Man

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3

If your employer pays you by direct deposit and you are at all like me, you know the exact hour and day each pay period that the money is deposited into your bank account.  Have you ever thought of yourself as being rich?  The truth of the matter is that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are rich, despite how little or how much money you actually have. 

God has given each of us more riches than we could possibly fathom and He does so at the moment of our salvation.  Unfortunately, too many people live impoverished, spiritually speaking, of course.

God works a lot differently than our employer does…there is no monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly deposit-He has given each of us an unlimited spiritual bank account that we can draw from.  Some believers only come to God with their problems, while failing to realize that He has already made a never-ending and abundant deposit on their behalf.   Additionally, other believers are simply too distracted by their possessions or the things of this world to tap into God’s spiritual blessings.

God’s riches are greater than any amount of money, possessions, or power that this world has to offer.  We must believe God and take Him at His Word; He is who He says He is and we will never have to ask Him for what He has already blessed us with!

Miracles

Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe." The royal official said' "Sir, come down before my child dies."  Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."  John 4:48-50

While recently praying for clarity, peace, and direction, I was tempted to ask God for a sign; anything to prove that my prayers were not falling on deaf ears.  I never actually asked for a sign, but once I began to notice God's presence in my life, it became clear and apparent that not only Has he had His hand on me, but He continues to, even when He seems miles away and distant.  

The above verse from the Gospel of John recalls Jesus' second recorded miracle in Galilee.  A royal official approached Jesus with his sick son and pleaded for Jesus to heal him.  The official took Jesus at His word and his son was miraculously healed at the seventh hour, which is when Jesus said that "his son would live."  The official and his family became believers after the boy was healed.  After pondering this verse, the key is not the miracle itself, it's actually the matter of faith that Jesus mentions.

Do we believe without seeing miracles or wonders?  Do we trust that Jesus is ever-present with us?  Do we have faith in His ability to answer our prayers?    Ask yourself these questions and allow His truth into your heart...

The Rising

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-39

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001, and life as we knew it here in the United States was forever changed.  It’s hard for me to fathom what the grieving families and friends of the victims of the terrorist attacks are still feeling on this sad anniversary.  Their day probably began like any other, but unfolded into a nightmare by mid-morning.  By the time news of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center had gained national media attention, a second plane crashed into the second tower and frightening reality that our nation was under attack began to sink in.

I was in New York City for a concert two weeks prior to September 11th.  The highlight of my trip was taking a tour to the top of the World Trade Center and the seeing the utterly amazing view of the city.  Less than a week later, I watched the horrific events of that day unfolding and people jumping to their death, I felt broken, helpless, shaken, and scared; were the people I saw when I was in the World Trade Center still in the building when the planes crashed?  For weeks, I mourned the loss of innocent lives and remained glued to the television every night as the rescue efforts continued.  I was depressed, angry, and confused during those dark and dreaded days.  The only bit of hope and security that I had at that time, was in reading my Bible, specifically the above passage from Romans.

Our world is an uncertain and always changing place.  Many people seek security in material possessions, wealth, affluence, relationships, and power.  Regardless, none of these things are guaranteed from one day to the next.  The events that took place on September 11, 2001 provide proof that any of those things can be taken from us in a matter of seconds.

For believers, even during chaotic times, we can rest assured that nothing can tear us away from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Today, as we remember the brave men and women who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the United States, let us also remember where we can find true security.  Place your hope and confidence in the solid rock of Jesus.

Saving Grace

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Hebrews 6:19

It has taken many years in my walk of faith to overcome the thought of trying to do ‘enough’ to please God.  This is, unfortunately, how many people live their lives; hoping that they have been to church enough, read their Bibles enough, and prayed enough to please God.  They hope God will forgive them and are often times uncertain that He actually will.  They hope that they will one day be considered worthy of heaven.

Hope is vastly different from God’s point of view and He doesn't want us to just live our lives trying to fulfill some sort of ‘Holy status quo.’  True hope comes from being thankful that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for us, thus saving us from certain death.

We can look back to the past to know that God never breaks His promises to us because He is just and He is good. His grace is not something we can earn or work towards like bonus points on a credit card or airline.

True hope comes from knowing that He loves us and that’s why He sent Jesus to this earth to save us, even though we don’t deserve it.

True Faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

Jesus gave us all blessed assurance and promise about our prayers when He stated: 'Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Jesus made this statement to assure each of us that the new covenant is true-the way to Kingdom is based on faith, which is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don't see.

Whatever you ask for, you must believe that you have received it.  Sometimes, don't be surprised if you don't see it, we could not have faith if we did.  We only have sight and vision, but God honors those who have faith.  He will always keep His promises to us and will bless those who trust Him with certainty!

Drifting

Don’t look for shortcuts to God.  The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time.  Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do.  The way to life-to God-is vigorous and requires total attention.  Matthew 7:13-14, The Message

For quite some time, I am just now noticing that I drifted through my life by living it in such a routine and mediocre fashion.  I would just show up worship on Sundays, say the same prayer each and every daily, punch the clock at work, and turn around and repeat the same process the very next week.  It’s easy to slip into this pattern when you lack personal motivation and easy to look for success in things that require minimal effort.  Why do you think that weight loss pills are so popular?  If you could just take a pill and shed the unwanted pounds, why would you bother to exercise and maintain a healthy diet?

Living that kind of lifestyle is a poor substitute for living a life of excellence, which was God’s plan for each one of us from the very beginning.

We must seek God and learn what His good plan is for our lives and then pursue it with all of our might.  When you pursue God with vigor and determination, your life will be filled a sense of purpose and fulfillment with His abundant blessings!

Livin' Thing

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.  Isaiah 40:8

Looking back at some old photos taken of me from my youth, I am dumbfounded by some of the trends and fads that I actually embraced as a child.  Whoever thought that the long, colorful, Bermuda shorts from the 80s, otherwise known as ‘Clam diggers,’ were a good idea for a short and pudgy kid, was out of their ever-loving mind!!  Thankfully that fashion trend came and went and as I entered the ninth grade in 1990, I proudly rocked a pair of Bugle Boys.  Okay, enough about me and my fashions; you get the point….

I am always amazed at how I can open my Bible and read a passage of Scripture that has a relevant meaning for exactly what I am going through at the exact time that I needed to read it.  It’s no wonder that the Bible contains the very few words of the almighty God and it is the only document that is ‘living.’

‘Living’ means that the Scriptures in the Holy Bible are relevant for all people in all places in all times.   The Word is as contemporary as the latest trend, yet as lasting as eternity.  Praise God’s holy name!!

Heart to Heart

People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  1 Samuel 16:7

In a romantic relationship, often times it is the initial physical attraction that draws two people together. Once the relationship evolves and two people fall in love, it's what is on the inside that matters the most.  In fact, looks alone can only take someone so far...

It’s natural for us to look first at someone’s outward appearance, but God sees past physical appearances and looks directly into our hearts.  Sadly, our society places too much emphasis on physical appearance without giving much thought to how beautiful a person’s heart is.

To God, true beauty comes from the inside, the heart, not what we look like!

Teach Your Children

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  1 Peter 2:9

Whenever our boys asks me where or what I do for work, my standard response is along the lines of: "I help people by selling insurance." (I would dare to tell them that I am an expert in Health Care Reform, but I do want them to think my job is somewhat exciting!)

Being a father has certainly made me understand the importance of the message I communicate to our children.  For instance, I knew that my father was in the Army Reserve when I was a young child, but I could barely articulate that he was a human resources manager for a large U.S. textile manufacturer when asked what he did to earn a living.  Regardless, I knew that he loved me and my little sister and was a much stricter disciplinarian than my mother was.  I knew that he wanted the best for us and worked hard to provide for our family.  He also wanted us to be in church on Sundays and valued sitting down at the table to enjoy meals every night after he came home from work.

You see, everything we do or say teaches our children about our priorities, beliefs, and passions.  Knowing this we must not allow ourselves to become too busy with the demands of our occupations or other priorities, as we will surely send the wrong message to our children.

What are you communicating to your children?  Do they know that you have a heart for God’s direction in your life?  Do they know that you are in a relationship with Christ by the example you lead?

We have an incredible responsibility as parents and wise parents will always seek God’s counsel in raising their own children.

Hammer

 

You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.  Psalm 139:13

Several summers ago, we had our patio converted into a screened-in porch.  While it was under construction, I couldn't help but notice the skill and precision that the contractor used as he built the add-on to our home.  After he measured all of the dimensions of our patio, he went with us to purchase all of the necessary materials and knew with certain wisdom and experience the proper tool to use to complete each step of the project.

Just like the contractor who knows what tool to use, God has a job for each one of us to do while we are here on this earth.  In fact, He had our plans worked out before we even drew our first breath when we were born.  He created each of us to serve as His ‘tool’ to get the job done.

If you think about it, it’s pretty amazing to know that God has prepared us, fashioned us, and equipped us to serve Him on this earth.

Joy

The joy of the Lord is your strength!  Nehemiah 8:10

For the longest time, I wouldn't dare enter the doors of a church because I mistakenly thought that church-going folks didn't know how to enjoy themselves and live life.  All of these years later, I couldn't have been any more wrong!  Sure, there are some Christians that meticulously attempt to live their lives without sin (it’s impossible, by the way), and in many cases, with that comes the judgment of others and other self-righteousness, but God created each of us to enjoy our time here on this earth.

Happiness is based on performance or on your set of circumstances.  Joy is what springs from God’s love; performance and circumstances don’t mean a thing.  When you realize how great God’s love is for you, you become less vulnerable to depression and despair over disappointments and problems.

The more you seek Him, find Him, love Him, and know Him, the more you become like Him, and the greater your joy will be.  You will find perfect and lasting joy in heaven, but you can experience joy right here and right now by walking with the Lord.