Meet Jesus: Straight

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Matthew 5:  33″Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

 In our networking, political worlds, we often find shaded communications the norm.  Jesus is a straight shooter.  His admonition to us is to avoid dependence on excuses and other items like, “I swear by the heavens”, over which we have no control.  Simply say yes or no He tells us.  Connecting with Jesus means connecting with a simple, clear answer.    Connecting with Jesus strengthens us to give a simple, clear answer and commitment when other’s depend on us.

ACT! Get straight on a miscommunication.  Think of a commitment you have made that really was neither a yes or no.   Make a decision and connect with the other person.  Tell them yes or no.

PRAY!  Father, help me to be like Jesus.  Give me clarity when I call to you.  Build clarity in me when I am called upon by others.  Show me direction.  Give me sound discretion in all decisions that I might be reliable and relied upon.  Bolster my confidence in You and in Your ability to follow through in me.  Let me not speak in shades of gray when people need clear and simple lines.  

Meet Jesus : Committed

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commitmentMatthew 5: 31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

 On first read, these verses look like they are about marital breakup.  Yes, they are.  And they are about more than that.  They are about commitment.  Connecting with Jesus is about connecting with commitment.  This is the man, who sought out Peter after being horribly betrayed.  This is the God, who found over 500 after going through a beating and violent death with less than five at the bottom of the cross.    This is the friend, who will never leave us or forsake us.

What challenge does that give us in relationships?

 ACT!  Take time to invest in a relationship.  Build instead of break.  Boost instead of loose.

PRAY!  Father, my hope is in You.  Always, we are challenged to keep active our relationships.  Teach us to manage the few You give to us.  You manage millions of relationships.  Teach us to stay faithful as You stay faithful.. Thank You for being the One that is faithful even when we are not.  We need that.

Engaging War

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meetjesus4Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching concerning this with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 The world needs more true praying to save it from the reign and ruin of Satan. — E.M. Bounds 

The saints are those covenanted in Christ for salvation and kingdom. Paul had just described a torrid battle of wills and wonders with the power of the enemy. Now, he calls on us engage our weapons and armor of salvation, faith, righteousness, truth, the gospel of peace, and the word of God with intense prayer.

Stand your ground. Advance on the enemy. Cover with prayer.

This Christian walk is not meant to be a cake walk. It is war. It is intense. There are victories and there are losses. Our approach and our walk of character and obedience have great influence on the outcome coupled with God’s intervention.

Success is not financial. Success is not things. Success is love, hope, and faith. Success is permanence of blessing in another life. Success is the progress of the saints.

Prayer: Father, there is tremendous blessing in our walk with You. There is also tremendous resistance from the enemy to right advancement of the kingdom. Teach us to pursue the right advancement and not just advancement. Teach us to work on behalf of others. Guide us to guide others into the kingdom, help them grow in the kingdom, and assist them to stay in the kingdom. This is our charter, our charge, our commission in Christ.

Approaching God

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Design for Discipleship

Refreshing air fills my lungs and quiet consoles my soul.

The wind is gentle and the shifting season brings a certain odor.

Friends fill my mind.  Ailing, hurting, smiling, transforming, new, old, uncertain, and depressed are they.  One was run over by a car, another is run over by cancer, another’s heart is failing, one is losing hope, one is gaining life in new ways.  They are friends and I care for them.

God cares for them.  He cares for you.  He cares for me.  He is active and approachable.

Father, let me touch Your will and let it become my ways.

Father, change me so I might offer change to others with gentleness, and freshness.

Father, open Your storehouse of blessing and comfort for my friends.  Touch and bring life.  Breathe and bring healing.  Hover over them like the Fall winds rustle through the trees over me and let them know You are here.

You are here.

You are hearing.

You are now.

You are present.

You are approachable.

Worldchangers Care.

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pmlogoblueThe world won’t change if you stand and stare. It will only change when you stoop and care. Phil

Psalm 142:3-5 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way.

In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.

Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me.

I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge,my portion in the land of the living.”

David was hiding in a cave when he wrote this psalm. Many of us live in caves. Maybe we live there for a week or a month or a lifetime. In the cave, we wonder if any really care. We block off hands that try to reach. All around us are others living in caves. They won’t put out their heads unless they know we care.

God cares. He cares for you. He is safe. He doesn’t lay traps. You don’t have to live in the cave. You can help others out of their cave.

Prayer: Father, the caves of life are dark and damp and fearful. You are full of light and warmth and care. Your care removes our fear. You allow us to see light in the darkest moments. You warm the coldness of despair. You open hope with care. Give us strength to do the same for others.

Work of Faith, Labor of Love, Patience of Hope

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1 Thessalonians 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.

Morning greets with wafting noise and odors of coffee and sausage.  Before me is a grand day of training and planning and prayer.

What will you do today, Father?

While I am working and busy, will You be changing lives and bringing success to my door?  Of course You will.  It is Your nature.

While I am praying and listening, will You be speaking kind words to those from whom I need favor and action?  Of course You will.  It is Your nature.

While I am planning and consulting, will you be dispatching angels to pave and protect the path of provision?  Of course You will.  It is Your nature.

Father, guard the work of faith.  Honor my actions.  Enable them and anoint them to accomplish ten times what I can do.

Father, embrace the labor of love.  Let it touch hearts with Your heart.  Expose Yourself through me and let others see You.

Father, honor the patience of hope.  Open the eyes of my understanding.  Cause vision to congeal and give substance to faith’s grasp.

Este dia en tus manos, Padre Dios.

Take Time to Battle

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unshakeableThe Lord of Hosts is on Your Side. I would have lost heart had I not believed, The Lord of Hosts is on my side.

In Psalm 24, David declares the Lord of Hosts is Strong and Mighty in Battle. In Psalm 84, the sons of Korah declare the Lord of Hosts has a lovely dwelling place, answers prayer, and is worth our trust for blessing. In Psalm 89, Ethan the Ezrahite declares the Lord of Hosts is mighty and His faithfulness surrounds Him. No other mentions are made of this name of God in the Psalms. It is the most used name for God in all of the Old Testament.

Jehovah Tse-Bah-Wah – The Lord of Hosts, The Lord of the Armies Encamped for War, The Lord Almighty.
Many versions translate this name as the Lord Almighty. Literally, it means the Lord of the Armies Encamped for War. I have seen Him in the watchfires of an hundred circling camps. I have seen Him at Tulakes Elementary where over 97% are fatherless. I have seen Him at Epperly Heights Elementary in Del City where over 97% are fatherless. I have seen Him in West OKC around Eagles’ Crest where the fatherless are 65%. I have seen Him in Matamoros and Moquetito and Gualaneno and Praederas de Rioje in Mexico where anger and strife and drugs and alcohol strangle the citizenry. I have seen Him in East OKC at Tabitha and other congregations, where fatherless homes are 70-80% of the norm. I have seen Him at Life Church in Edmond with the Mentoring Project reaching out into the highways and byways. I have seen Him on the phone as I talk with man after man with fractured backgrounds wanting to help someone else. I have seen Him in Gainesville stirring souls to Christ and freedom. I have seen Him. I have seen Him.

He is the father to the fatherless and the supporter of the unmanned home and the liberator of the captive mind and heart and the One who sets the solitary into families. He is active. He is purposed. He has decided it is time. Enough is enough.

How long, Oh Lord of Hosts, will we turn to legislation and the noise of man to save us? Have we not trusted in the spear of economy and investments? Have they not failed us? Have we not trusted in political process and community action and been skewered in our dependence? Do we not resemble Israel of old-looking to Egypt and Syria and other nations, when You stand above all? Are you not the Lord of Heaven and Earth? Is not all of this subject to Your hand and Your action and Your influence? Has our gospel become so weak in our hearts and mouths that we have forgotten our Maker, our KIng, our Lord, our Warrior, our Salvation, our Banner, our Healer, our Righteousness, our Every Present, our Shepherd, our Provider, our Peace, and The LORD of HOSTS?

Save our hearts, Lord. Battle for our souls. We have become complacent and accepting that our nation and community is subject to statistic. Lord, my house is subject to Your LORDship. Lord over my home. Lord over our homes. Lord over us. Bring us to holiness and separation from statistic. Bury divorce. Bury abortion. Ban it from Your people. Bury fatherlessness. Bury drug and alcohol dependencies. Bury violence and anger. Bury our ills of dependency on anything or anyone else but YOUR UNFAILING LOVE AND POWERFUL PRESENCE.
Cleanse LORD of Hosts and prepare us for battle for Your Kingdom. Your will be done in Heaven and on Earth. Shake us. Stir us. Pull out from underneath us all of our strange gods we have set before You.

Meet Jesus : Heaven Focused Matthew 5:29

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energyMatthew 5: 29: And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30: And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 Jesus is focused.  His determination to see us succeed in reaching our eternal destiny on good terms is infectious.  When you meet Jesus, you meet determination to get to Heaven, His Father’s throne room.  His determination affects everything He says and does.  He is focused that we would be there with Him.  He is focused that whatever would get in our way would be eliminated.  Though it may sound warped when you read these verses, remember He is focused to see you succeed.

 ACT! Think of one thing you could eliminate from your week that would help you grow.

PRAY!  Father, You are unfathomable.  You are so focused to see me grow and live a healthy, productive life that leads me into Your presence.  In Your presence is joy, Father.  Help me to eliminate in my life whatever leads me away from You and Your presence.  Help me to make hard decisions that lead to You.

Daily Crosses Lift Easier With Faith

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underhiswingsI press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

The Cross of Your LIfe:
The going home celebration of a friend of a few decades reminded me of the fragilility of life on this side of heaven. It is full of laughs and tears and comings and goings. None of us are guaranteed the next hour of breathing. None of us are guaranteed the next hour of financial prosperity. None of us are guaranteed the next hour of health. My friend lived with joy and endurance and love and all who knew her are stronger for it.
By faith, we embrace life with all of the uncertainty and instability.
By faith, we believe in a God that promises to never leave us or forsake us.
By faith, we hope in the glory of which we cannot see, but which changes us moment by moment.
By faith, we look to life and life more abundantly.
By faith, we are certain that He will see us through to completion.
By faith, we grasp the confidence that He is greater than any issue of the world.
By faith, we tackle issue after issue after issue.
But, there are no guarantees.
The cross of your life may include some time struggling through illness or disaster.
The cross of your life may include some days of uncertain financial footing.
The cross of your life may include some betrayals and unstable friends and family.
The cross of your life may include temptations to which you fall.
But, there are sure promises and continual blessings.
By promise, we understand that He owns this world and can move resource to our need at just the right momemt.
By promise, we hold to the faith of the Son of God, who loves us and gave Himself for us.
By promise, we have wisdom in Christ.
By promise, we are complete in Him.
By promise, we know those that follow Him will lack for no good thing.
By promise, we depend on His constant intercession.
By promise, we are filled with inestimable treasure of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control.
By faith in the promises of a Living God we live with and through our crosses stronger for each moment and more like Him. And that is life. Live it. My friend did and all of us who knew her are stronger for it.

Prayer: Father, when I started this morning life looked glum.  I have to be honest with You.

In Your promises, I find life is a joy.

In Your love, I find life is happiness.

In Your support, I find life is enchanting.

Take me though this day with all the crosses to bear and let life be more abundant.

Meet Jesus: Clear Thoughts Matthew 5:27

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meetjesustakebackMatthew 5: 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

 One of the greatest thought battles of the male is with lust.  Jesus is fully aware of that thought battle.  He is conscious of the struggle men face.  He doesn’t excuse it away.  Connecting with Jesus is connecting with a commitment to clear, controlled thought-life.

With what appears to be such a strict edict, is there hope for men and women?  Yes, the thought is not just directed to men, it is directed to all.  Is there hope?

Like any struggle, Jesus is giving us tips to stopping damage before it goes to full fruit.  The key is to stop thoughts before they develop into action.  He isn’t telling us that a quick temptation is like full blown sexual contact.  He is telling us, “Don’t go there.  Get control of your thoughts before they develop further than a fleeting idea.”

ACT!  Thoughts wandering?  Try speaking blessing over a person instead of contemplating their sexual attraction.  Change the focus of your mind.  Give your mind something else to think about.  See the person as a person not an objective.

 PRAY!  Father, our hearts can be so distracted.  So many times we find ourselves struggling to stay faithful and content with the lives in which we are blessed.  You call us to not covet other’s goods and spouses and conditions.  Keep envy far from us.  Keep jealousy away from our door.  Keep coveting out of our mind.  Clear our hearts, God.  We need Your help.  You give us clear and clean thoughts to guide us.  Help us to focus on the good and gentle and kind in life and be content with our condition.