Your ministry TO God will fulfill your ministry FOR God, Listen and Enjoy 🙏🏻🙌🏻
VLOG – “Ministry TO God vs. Ministry FOR God”
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devotional
VLOG – “Overcoming Wickedness”
A great word of wisdom!
The Last Hour
A few days ago when I was with my 3 grandchildren, I shared with them the story from Matthew 20 about the laborers in the vineyard. I told them the story in slightly different words. I said what if you went out to work on the farm and at 8am one of you started your job, later in the day around noon one of the others came and started to work, and finally at 4pm the last one showed up to work. After 5pm, the farmer came out to pay all of you and you all received the same pay. My oldest said that’s not fair and I would be mad if I was the one that started working first. I said it doesn’t seem fair to us but it is “mercy” exemplified in the greatest way. When I then explained, what if we are talking about being saved? She said, “Oh that is different.”
It is a hard concept for us as humans to wrap our minds around. Our thought process is about self. But every time I read this scripture my heart is so overwhelmed that we serve a God that has such great mercy. I’m so very thankful that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts. I have had family members that spent 75 years of their life ignoring God and his plan of salvation and then at the last hour they realized they needed a Savior. Did God say “No I’m sorry it is too late, you should have come earlier when you had years to serve me”? No, He did not. In fact, it was quite the opposite: He just said welcome home, my Child.
Salvation is a gift of God. We could never do enough to earn it. This scripture has given me much hope over the years, to know that as long as the person is alive, they can still ask God to save them. It does not matter if you have made wrong choices all your life and you have suffered the results of those and you are at the bottom of the barrel, God will still say “Yes!” if you will just offer yourself to him. I know people do not easily forgive or forget but God loves with an everlasting love and is benevolent in all His ways. I love the mercy and grace of God and that He overshadows me with these. No wonder, He said the last shall be first.
Matthew 20:1-16
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Safe Thus Far
I Samuel 7:12, Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Shen and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”
God had just delivered Israel from their enemy’s hand and had given victory over the Philistines.
As children of God, we too can say “thus far” the Lord has helped us. The words are like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. No matter the circumstance, the situation, the trial, the temptation —Thus far has the Lord helped us. The words “thus far” also point forward. Considering His faithfulness and loving-kindness in the past, we can trust that He will continue to help us because we have not yet come to the end. Because His grace and mercies are sure and everlasting, no matter the battles and toils to come He will never forsake us, and at the very end we will be able to say He has kept us safe thus far.
Memorial Stones at Jordan – Two Sets of Twelve. When Joshua and the Israelites were crossing over the Jordan River that God parted for them, God told Joshua to have twelve men carry a stone from the river floor over to the other side.There a memorial would be constructed so it would be seen and told how God had brought them across Jordan.
Joshua himself set up twelve stones in the midst of the dry Jordan riverbed where the feet of the priests which carried the ark of the covenant over had stood. Joshua’s act points to Jesus, our great High Priest who gives us the “white stone wherein our new name is written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Revelation 2:17) It cannot be physically seen, but we know it it there in our heart and our soul is safe because of the Holy Ghost. Our salvation is personal- between us and God, like the hidden stones, but through the Holy Spirit others can witness the existence of our salvation and the white stone (Jesus) that has been placed in our hearts- this is grace. One memorial seen – one unseen. We all have times we can look back on and know it was only the Lord that brought us through that. Like the stones that were visible, this becomes part of our testimony to the keeping power of our God. Others can be encouraged to trust Him in the difficult times through our testimony of God’s faithfulness.
The shepherds of the Alps have a beautiful custom of ending the day by singing an evening farewell to one another. As the sun begins to set, they gather their flocks and begin to lead them down the mountain paths while they sing, “Thus far has the Lord helped us. Let us praise His name.” Let us call out to one another through the darkness encouraging God’s weary travelers. The Lord who “thus far” has helped you will help you all your journey through.
Jeremiah’s Rescue
Scriptures: Jeremiah 37 & Jeremiah 38
Israel had asked Egypt to help them fight Babylon, the Chaldeans. However, Egypt returned to their own land and Israel was left alone to fight the Chaldeans. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah that Jerusalem would be destroyed by Babylon unless they surrendered to them. Jeremiah was accused of treason, beaten, and put into prison by the princes. King Zedekiah came to Jeremiah to ask him if there was any word from the Lord. Jeremiah told him even though he knew it might mean he would be put to death. The king told them to keep Jeremiah in the court of the prison and give him a piece of bread daily until all the bread in Jerusalem was gone.
The princes were so angry with Jeremiah and the word from the Lord that he spoke that they asked the king to have Jeremiah put to death. The king told them to do with Jeremiah as they wished. They cast him into a dungeon where there was no water, letting him down with cords, into the mire to die. (vs.6)
However, there was a servant named Ebedmelech (typifying the Holy Spirit) in the king’s house that knew where Jeremiah was and he wanted to save him. The king grants Ebedmelech’s request and gives him 30 men to rescue Jeremiah from the pit. Ebedmelech gets old rags and threadbare, worn-out clothes from under the king’s treasury to use in Jeremiah’s rescue. Ebedmelech instructs Jeremiah to put these rags and cloths under his arms when the cords are let down to pull him out, just as the Spirit guides and teaches us. Ebedmelech knew this would ease Jeremiah’s pain and suffering as he was lifted up by the cords. (vs.11,12)
Jesus, our Savior, took our pain and suffering, putting on the flesh (the old rags) so that we could be lifted out of the mire of sin and death. His love, mercy, and grace are like those old rags that took away the pain and suffering in our soul.
We are like those old rags, too. We are worthless, serving no purpose without Him. In His hands, we are made useful, worthy, and have a purpose. We can be used by Him, like those old rags, to help ease the pain and suffering of others, help others come to Christ to be saved; help them to be lifted up out of the mire of sin.
All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, but Jesus has made us righteous through His righteousness. (From Isaiah 64:6)
Jesus was lifted up on the cross to suffer and die so that we could be lifted up out of sin and death and be reconciled to God.
He lifted us out of the pit and set our feet upon the Rock-lifted us up and out of the mire and brought us over and into life, into a beautiful place, His kingdom. (From Psalm 40:2)
Jeremiah’s message from God was not popular as the Gospel message is still despised and rejected by many today. However, Jeremiah stood boldly with what God had given him. We are called to be Jeremiahs in our generation-claiming the Gospel, willing to be unpopular and unaccepted by the world for the Gospel’s sake.
VLOG – “Blessing Your Enemy” (Luke 6:27-28)
Luke 6:27-28
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Of the Heart
Did you know the heart is what really matters? Physically it is the hollow, muscular organ that circulates the blood by alternate dilation and contraction. The heart needs to operate within a certain pressure and rhythm for your body to stay healthy. If it fails to operate then the body ceases to function and you die. The health of your heart is very important. This is also true spiritually. Spiritually the heart is the center of feelings and the seat of the affections. There are several versus that describe how important your heart is your spiritual life. Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
What is in your heart guides your speech, your thoughts, and your actions. A heart that is full of sin cannot produce good fruit. Your heart is what the Lord sees. I’m not saying he doesn’t see your actions or deeds but your heart is where God wants to be.
1 Samuel 16:7 For the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
This why the greatest commandment given is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
You might ask how do I change my heart from being evil to being good? David said “Create in me a clean heart O God;”
Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart: and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
I have read scriptures in the Old Testament that talked about serving God with a perfect heart. What does this mean? Does it mean that you are without sin? That you live a perfect life?
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee:…
Serving the Lord with a perfect heart doesn’t mean that you are a perfect person. I feel that it means that your heart is fixed on God and that he is at the center of your life. Your thoughts are toward Him. Your desires are toward Him and His way.
Psalms 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
This verse doesn’t include doubts about what your purpose is or fear of what might happen. It says your heart is determined and settled. Sometimes in the journey of life we lose our focus. Our heart becomes drawn away by our own desires and we dwell on our circumstances instead of seeking God first in our lives.
I was reading my Bible and read the verse below and God convicted my heart. Like me you might be going to church, reading your Bible, doing good to others but if your heart isn’t fixed on Him then you will feel empty. When I read this verse I realized that I wasn’t seeking Him with my heart. It’s when my heart seeks after Him that I am blessed.
Psalms 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
I think this is what is lacking in our worship of the Lord. You can go through the actions and follow the program but if you heart is not seeking and fixed upon Him then the heart will not be filled as it needs to be but will be empty of that strength that it needs.
Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
I desire a closer walk with God. I want to make a greater difference in this world. I want to feel more of His Holy Spirit in my life.
I want God to work miracles in the lives of those around me. I want to be in God’s favor and under His wings.
God doesn’t measure us on our ability to do great things. But God does search our hearts to see if our heart is for Him. A heart that is fixed recognizes that God is omnipotent, God is in control, God knows best, and God is the center of your existence.
Psalms 28:7 …my heart trusteth in Him, and I am helped.
Staying In The Battle
It is so important that you as a soldier in the army of the Lord do not give up in the battle that you are waging against the enemy. You may feel that you are not accomplishing anything and that your part doesn’t make a difference. You may not realize the impact that your life has on others. I would like to talk about the difference that Jonathan, the eldest son of Saul, made in the battle.
We find in 1 Samuel 12: 5-7 that Israel was facing a hard battle against the Philistines. “And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and peoples as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude; and they came up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the peopled followed from him trembling.” Not only was Israel greatly outnumbered but they had no swords or spears to fight with. There were no iron workers or smiths found in the land of Israel. But the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get their axes and mattocks sharpened. So there was neither sword or spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan.
It looked like there was no way to overcome. In Chapter 14, Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto his young armour bearer, “Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But they told no one and no one knew they were gone. The path that Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison was a difficult path. There was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side. How many times have you felt like you were in this situation? You may have felt like there was no hope or no way out. Jonathan said again to his armour bearer, “Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” What faith that Jonathan had. Heremembered God’s promises and covenant with Israel. He was taking God seriously and claiming what God had already given Israel. Many are the times we don’t receive from God because we don’t believe what He has already promised us.
The armour bearer told Jonathan to do all that was in his heart, behold, I am with thee. This had to be encouragement for Jonathan. I like to think that the armour bearer represented the Holy Spirit that is always present with us and goes with us through all our battles and trials. Jonathan said we will pass over to these men and if they say unto us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand and this shall be a sign to us. Jonathan was putting his fleece out, waiting on an answer from God. Unlike his father, Saul, who had just committed sin in the earlier chapter by not waiting on Samuel to come to offer the sacrifice, Jonathan was depending on God to do the leading and willing to go forward when God sent His approval.
When Jonathan made known their presence unto the Philistines, they said, “Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing”. Jonathan knew it was time to move into the battle. He said unto his armour bearer, “Come up after me: for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” Jonathan defeated a small number of Philistines in the mountain pass. Then God Himself moved in the battle. He sent an earthquake which caused a great panic among the Philistines. All the noise and commotion of the retreating Philistines were noticed by Saul’s watchmen. Saul decided to join in the battle. In verses 21 & 22, it says that the Hebrews who had joined the Philistines earlier went up from them and turned to be with the Israelites. Alsothe men of Israel which had been hiding in the mountain also joined in the battle against the Philistines. Verse 23 says so the Lord saved Israel that day.
Jonathan didn’t know that he would be a “recruiter” for the Lord’s battle that day. He was just following in his heart what he thought the Lord wanted him to do. Your life can have a similar impact. By staying in the battle, you will have an influence on others. Those who had left Israel and joined the Philistines, turned back to fight with Israel. Those who had been afraid and discouraged and had hid themselves in the mountain, gained courage and strength and joined the battle. If others see that you are faithful to God in the good times and in the bad, they will be encouraged and want to do as you do. So don’t ever give up but keep fighting the good fight of faith and performing the labor that God has given you. Jonathan was humble in his obedience to God. It was God’s victory that daybut Jonathan allowed himself to be used in the battle and as a result many who had turned away from God came back that day to fight in the battle.
As we begin a new year in 2019, be determined to stay in the battle of faith believing that God will answer your prayers, will bring you wayward family back home, will deliver individuals from the chains of addiction, and will save those who are lost. Your fight is important not only to God but to those around you.
Video: Christmas with Heart of Grace Ministries
As we entered the Christmas season this year, the reality of family getting together makes us look to the past and how it is so easy when all the food and presents surround everyone that it sometimes is hard to really grasp the true Christmas Spirit. We made the decision to set aside an evening ( Pre-Christmas) to put an emphasis on what Christmas is really about. I wanted to share a small part of our gathering which includes a song and thoughts from Regina and Jared. Hope it helps everyone focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas from Heart of Grace!