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All About Preparation

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I want to start today’s writing in the thought of talking about food. If I said to you that you had a choice on something to eat based on how it had been prepared, what would be your pick?

Are you the kind of person that can’t wait, and will go through and get something that takes 5 minutes or less to fix, just so you can have it right then?

Are you the kind of person that is willing to wait a little longer, maybe 5-10 minutes, while something cooks in the microwave?

Or are you the kind of person that will wait the longest amount of time, maybe 30 minutes to an hour, while something bakes in the oven?

If I started taking answers from everyone, I’m sure that the responses would vary greatly. However, if I told you that the best tasting food was the food you would get if you waited the longest, I am sure that the answers would begin to change, right? I’m not here today to talk about microwavable blessings. That is a wore out topic, that everyone is very much aware of. I want to discuss something that everyone seems to leave out every single time.

I’m not here to tell you that I am an avid chef, but there is a very important step in making the perfect meal. It’s all about preparation.

If you rush through the process of putting all of your ingredients together during the beginning of your process, then your meal will be a mess, and won’t come out the way you want it to be, and you will be unhappy with the end result, not enjoying the taste of your food by any means.

Now then, let’s move this from food to more spiritual matters.

Let me just go ahead and tell you how God has put this on my heart. I’m sure I won’t make any fans or followers on this, and that’s okay. It’s very often that I see the people of God coming into services day in and day out, so unsatisfied with the way that church is anymore. There is always one in the crowd, no matter how good the food is, that won’t like the way it tastes. They aren’t happy with the way that the praise and worship is, the preaching is, the teaching is, they blame just about everything in the world, and are very unhappy with the way everything tastes. It’s not just one church you go to that you see this trend; it’s everywhere that you travel.

And the truth of the matter is, it is nothing more than a lack of preparation from a person:

Isaiah 57:14-21

[14] And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
[15] For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
[16] For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
[17] For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.
[18] I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
[19] I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
[20] But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
[21] There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

If we do not begin to learn to prepare ourselves to have a humble spirit, we will go into our services and be the very stumbling block to people that need to be saved, or need help in a desperate way. If you are going in church, and have no peace of mind, and you are just completely distracted all together, then just pray that God will help you to find peace. He is the one who gives it, and will restore, as the word above reads.

I’m learning every day that having more prayer and reading throughout my week every single day is helping me be more prepared to be of a help in church services to others that stand in need. I have also learned the hard way that doing nothing at all leaves me in that wicked state that it speaks of, leaving me in no better shape than someone that is lost, just as confused as they are, having to get myself back in good shape with God.

It took a lot of boldness for me to write this, so I pray that you take some initiative like I have, and start being more prepared before you ever hit the doors to the church: come with a song on your heart, come with a scripture on your mind, come with a person burdened on your heart to pray for, come with a goal to give God glory! Come prepared to do something spectacular!

Then I know beyond all doubt that you will leave with a better taste in your mouth, and you will leave much more full then you would if you came with no preparation. Because like the old adage, there is nothing better than eating a meal that has been slaved over all day, right? God Bless!

Only With Love

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Philippians 2:11-13

[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[12] Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
[13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Matthew 7:1-2

[1] Judge not, that ye be not judged.
[2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

I have thought of a million ways to approach this topic, but I can only speak from my heart and tell you how I feel led to say what I am about to say. There were a lot of times in my own life where I felt like that people looked at me and condemned me before they ever knew me. Sure my lifestyle wasn’t the best at the time, and perhaps they may have been right. One thing that was not present though was a single person coming to me out of love to see if I needed help. They just assumed I was heading for destruction and did not want any part of helping me. Looking back on that now, it breaks my heart at the thought that out of all of my peers, no one really went above and beyond to show that true love of God. I did not say that to start ranting and raving about how no one cares anymore. I know that there are people that care about me, but sometimes me believing to myself that they do isn’t enough.

Where do we come in as Christians in all of this? As always, we need to apply ourselves in the word of God. If we begin to think about certain instances of the bible, there were several instances of people being upset about others receiving love while they thought they didn’t deserve the blessing they got. The story of the prodigal son showed that the brother that had been with his father the whole time was not pleased with the way that his father welcomed his other brother back after all he had done. The story of Zacchaeus also shows the people around him being upset that Christ chose to go to his house.

And as I think in the days we live in, I see this kind of attitude rise up every day in people that are supposed to be servants of the Lord. We live in a society where there is a system in place that judges people daily and gives them a sentence of how they must be punished for their actions. We as people of God work by a different system. We were not placed here to be the judge of anyone (Matthew 7:1-2). Everyone has their own price to pay for what they have done. How can we cast out others when we were first cast out? People will not think what you have inside of you is real unless love is wrapped all around it. Be that person that goes to someone in trouble and invites them to come to church, to pray, anything that would lead them to God!

People have to accept and admit that their lifestyle may be wrong in the eyes of God. As it says above, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. I can’t make someone live the way I want them to, this is something that God reveals to each individual about what needs to change. But we as a people who put on the mind of Christ that needs to love people beyond recognition. So what am I saying today?   I am saying that we need to put our gavels down, and open up our hands to lead people to have a better life through Christ. Remember this the next time you walk into a conversation where someone is making fun of someone else. Instead of joining them, say something positive through faith. Be the one that cares. Be the one that looks beyond their mistakes, for that is what God has done for you!

I’ll end this with a scripture; it says it better than I can:

Luke 6:35-38

[35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
[36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
[37] Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
[38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Where Is The Love?

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There are so many times when we find ourselves in complete disarray, and everything that we know changes. And only until we reach this place do we realize that we should have “known” better.  I want to use the opportunity that I have here to speak on something that have been trying to understand and gain a better understanding on.

I remember when I was a child growing up in church. I remember hearing the people have joy in their voices and happiness on their faces. It made being at church a fun and joyous experience, and it captivated me. It was so clear and easy for me to see that the people that were happy were in possession of something that brought good things in their heart that made them want to share that joy with others.

I miss those days so much. I remember them very vividly. There are so many memories of hearing grown men turn humble in front of large crowds, giving their hearts testimony for everyone to know just how good that God was to them. I remember even hearing some of the women of God shouting will all their heart, sometimes in joy, and more often in faith for things to come.

I remember the songs that I used to hear. Some of them I still try to sing today, but I could never compare to hearing songs like “Consider The Lillies” and “Two Coats”. Oh how those songs used to bring such an uplifting to me, and now how they are counted so little. People are searching for the newest songs, the newest things to try and replicate a feeling that we used to know old so well.

There are many of you out there probably reeling at some of these points, and I hope that you are. I hope that this is starting to get you to wonder how in the world this ties to a positive devotional.

To be honest, we go out into the churches of today and find that the humbleness, faithfulness, and true established desire of the people is going out. I know that it is not intentional for it to dwindle away, but everyone cannot question what we see; it is what it is. More than anything, I hear people wanting to issue complaints about how bad things are where they go, wanting to relocate in hopes of finding a place to feel like that they belong.

People get offended, upset with each other, and want to settle nothing. We want to just write someone off and go on, or do whatever we must to get them to go. Rather than address anything, things go unresolved and it’s just one more reason why we can’t worship the way we use to anymore. And if enough of this happens in one place, you then soon see the doors close up, literally and spiritually.

At this point, it is really hard to find a certain place to begin, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what to ask first.

So where is the love of God that is supposed to dwell within us? Well, it is easy to say “of course I have love”, but it’s completely different when push comes to shove. It’s easy to say that we love everyone, but turn away from someone that stands in need right in front of us. It’s easy to say that we love God and would do anything for him, and yet, we sit idly by in church services where we know good and well that people need help and encouragement. The bible talks about how without charity that most of what we can even do means nothing. Why are we forgetting this principle? We can preach the best, sing the prettiest, look the holiest, and yet, without that true love of God running our lives, it really bears no benefit to anyone or ourselves.

I believe that we should begin to start being in active practice of love. That means having all the qualities and virtues of it. Things like mercy, compassion, forgiveness, charitable, selflessness, are a MUST. That means being welcoming to those that you love and those you don’t know. That means opening your heart to those you favor, as well as those that you don’t. Most importantly, we are held accountable for our actions, so if we so chose to just blow off being obedient in this area, all that I can tell you is that we are what we eat.

This concept is hard to grasp, but if learned and used in the best spiritual capacity, is the most powerful way of not only leading people to Christ, but keeping people from ever feeling like that they do not fit in. We want you to know that we at Heart of Grace love you very much, and encourage you to be the best that you can everywhere that you are. Public or private, friend or foe, church or not, be the loving person that God has called you to be. Make it your goal to never let one person feel out of place. Remember, as the bible speaks on, greater is the joy when we find the one and leave the 99. And we only understand that joy when we do it. And we will only do it with love.

Have You Been Made Whole

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I would like to share with you a recent thought that the Lord brought by on what it means to be made whole.  First of all, I would like to define the word “whole”.  Some definitions from the dictionary are:  free of wound or injury (unhurt), recovered from a wound or injury (restored), free of defect or impairment, having all of its proper parts (complete).  A synonym for whole is “perfect”.  If I could physically demonstrate to you something that is not whole, I would present to you a vase that has been shattered into many pieces or perhaps a puzzle that is missing one piece.  Both of these examples have no value or use because they are broken or incomplete.   People are just like this.  All of us are incomplete and some of us are like the vase.  Our lives have been torn into many pieces by sickness, death, trauma, depression, violence, addictions, or some other great trouble.  But there is a remedy, a balm in Gilead that can be found.  His name is Jesus.  Every human person is incomplete without Jesus in their life.  No matter if everything in life has been good for you; there is still an empty void in your life.  The reason is that you were created to fellowship with God but when sin entered into the heart of man, he was separated from God.  The only way man can be reconciled back to God is through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus paid the sin debt for mankind on the cross of Calvary.  He made a way that man can be restored or made “whole”.   I have heard so many testimonies over the years from Christians that talk of how different their lives were after they accepted Jesus Christ.  I have heard some say that the sun shone brighter, the grass was greener, and their heart was full of love instead of hatred.  Some just said they felt a deep settled peace enter their heart.  Here are some scriptures that demonstrate the miracle of being made whole by Jesus:

Matthew 9:22

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.  And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

Matthew 14:36

“And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

Luke 8:48

“And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort:  thy faith hath made thee whole;  go in peace.”

Please notice some important truths about being made whole.  When God saves your soul, you are made whole that very instant, that very hour.   God’s salvation is a gift.  You don’t have to do something more or different.  God’s salvation is given to you freely and fully the moment you accept Jesus as your Savior.  There is spiritually growth that can be had after you are saved but you are made “whole” the moment that God saves your soul.

When God saves your soul, the salvation he gives you is “perfect”.  It is not of man’s righteousness that you are saved but of the righteousness of Jesus.  This is why salvation is eternal.  It is not dependent on man and his goodness or his works but it is provided by the supreme sacrifice that Jesus made on Calvary.  What God does, he does well.  The scripture didn’t say that these people were just partially made whole and that it would only be good for so many days or months.  It said they were made perfectly whole.

The next scripture I want to read is John 5:6:  “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”

This is the question I want to ask you today?  Have you been made whole?  If not, do you want to be made whole?  Like the crippled man in this scripture, have you been on life’s journey a long time but your life is empty and void?  Then now is the time for you to call on Jesus and ask him to make your life whole.   And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.

Equipped With Assurance

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In today’s message I wish to talk about being Equipped With Assurance

So many things in life bear many uncertainties, but there are many things that we obtain by having God being the all-in-all in our lives

First of all, we have Forgiveness from God

1 John 2:1-2

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Often times when we face rough things we can cling to God’s Peace

Romans 14:17

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

One part that we often take for granted so often is our Freedom

Romans 8:2-3

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Even when we have strength, we never use the God given Power and authority

Ephesians 4:21-25

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

One of my personal favorite emotions would of course be Hope. For without it, we are a people without faith.

1 Peter 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Always remember when you are going through your every day, to equip yourselves with these things that God gifted us to be able to live life with. God Bless You!

It Is Well

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What a blessed day it is.  I awoke this morning and all was well.  Did this mean that I had lots of money, no pain, no heartache, no trouble?  No that it is not what I mean when I say that All is Well.  In 2 Kings Chapter 4 we find the story of the Shunammite woman and her son.  Elisha, a prophet of God passed through the area of Shunem often and there was a woman and her husband who showed him kindness by providing him something to eat as he passed through.  One day when Elisha passed through, he found that they had built a little chamber on the wall and had put a bed, table, stool, and candlestick in it just for him so that he would have a place to rest when he came by.  You might ask why did they do this for Elisha?  The bible says that the woman perceived that Elisha was a holy man of God.   She wanted to make a special place for Elisha to dwell.  In other words, she made place for him.  This was a new room just for him.  Elisha was pleased that the Shunammite woman did this for him.

If you want God to dwell in your life and if you want to find favor with Him, you have to make a place for Him.  He has to be first in your life.  He needs to be lifted up in your life just like the room was high on the wall.  He called her to him and asked what he could do for her.  She said that she didn’t need anything that she lived among her own people and had what she needed.  Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, told Elisha that he had noticed that the woman and her husband did not have any children.  Elisha called the woman again and promised her that she would soon embrace a son.  She could not believe what she was hearing.  The woman soon conceived and had a son.  The woman didn’t ask for anything but God knew her heart.  He knew she desired a child.  If you are faithful to God, he will be faithful to you.  He will give you the desires of your heart.  He loves you and wants the very best for you.

Years later when the child was older, it fell on a day that he went out to the fields to work with his father.  He fell sick and they carried the lad to his mother.  The bible says he sat on her knees till noon and then died.  She went up and laid him on Elisha’s bed and shut the door.  She called her husband and asked for one of the mules so she could go to Elisha.  The husband didn’t understand why she wanted to go find Elisha.  It wasn’t the Sabbath or a new moon.  Her response was “It shall be well”.    I just love this scripture.  I find great encouragement in the faith that this little woman had.  She had just held her only child in her arms and watched him die.  How devastating this must have been.  How heavy her heart must have felt.  But she said “It shall be well”.  You might ask how could she know this?

There is a peace that surpasses all understanding that God gives when he saves you.  You have great promises that you can depend on.  You know that he will not let you go through more than you can bear and that he can work all things to your good.  Just like Job who lost all he had, he still said “Blessed be the name of the Lord”.  When great trouble comes God’s people has the assurance that they are not alone and that the God who made the Heavens and Earth is in control.  No wonder the little woman could say through tear dimmed eyes, “It shall be well”.  I know we live in depressing times right now.  Life is hard.  But if you know the Lord Jesus Christ you can say  “It shall be well”.  If you haven’t been saved, then you can’t say this because it will not be well for your soul if you do not accept the salvation that Jesus has so freely given.

We find that the woman and her servant headed out to find Elisha not stopping for anything.  When she came to Elisha, he saw her afar off and recognized her.  He sent his servant to meet her and to inquire of her.  Is it well with thee?  Is it well with thy husband?  Is it well with thy child?  And she said “It is well”.  I have often thought why she changed it from “It shall be well” which means at some point in the future things would be better to “It is well”.  She was now with Elisha the man of God.  She was in his presence.  When she came to Elisha, she caught him by the feet.  Gehazi, the servant, came near to thrust her away but Elisha said let her be for her soul is vexed and the Lord has not revealed to me what the problem is.  She then said to Elisha, did I not desire a son of my lord and did I not say, do not deceive me?  The Shunammite woman had reached the person that could help her.  That is why she said “it is well”.  When we take our problems to the Lord in faith believing and not giving up, God will move on the scene.  He will not push you away but rather He cares for you and wants to help you.  He said to cast all your care upon him for he careth for you.

Then Elisha sent his servant ahead to take his staff to lay on the face of the child.  He spoke to the woman and said, “I will not leave thee”.  He arose and followed her.  When Elisha came to the house he found the child dead and laying upon his bed.  He went in and shut the door and prayed unto the Lord.  He stretched himself upon the child face to face, hand to hand.  The relationship that God has with us is personal.  He knows our very thoughts, every move we make.  His love and strength makes us strong.  His grace covers the multitude of our sins.  Soon the child came back to life.  He called for the Shunammite woman and said take thy son.  God is still able to work miracles.  No matter what the circumstances of your life are, if you know Jesus, you can say “It shall be well”.  If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, please call on him.  He will answer you and you too can find this blessed assurance that “It is Well”.

Make The Effort

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I would like today’s message to be simple, and to just be the exact statements that God has put on my heart. I tried to figure out a way to say it that it would be not offensive or provocative, but there is no real way to get around the truth other than to just say it. I come to you today with a very heavy heart. I have been broken inside from the things that I have sat around and pondered on.

You see, the reality of everything that I know is that my life would have never had the wonderful transformation without the intervention of God and its people. In other words, I would still be addicted to drugs and alcohol, would still be bound in that old depression and confusion, and more than likely would not be alive today. I will never be able to get around this, and will always remember where I have come from. I say all of that because every single day, I see and think about people that I know could have that same change done in their lives, but it doesn’t seem to happen like it did for me.

So in that, I am seeking and looking for myself as to which why I might be the holdup with that. And when I began to seek, the scriptures I am about to read came to mind.

1 Peter 5:1-11

1 – The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 – Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 – Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4 – And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5 – Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 – Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 – Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 – Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 – But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11 – To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

There are so many present sufferings all around us, to which most of them seem to not have a solution. Rather than trying to be of help in most cases, we join in with the popular opinion, simply because it is easier on you and I to not get involved and help anyone. I know that this sounds so harsh even now, but I am one to not hide the truth. The truth is that people need our help every single day, without wavering. So many people are on the brink of suicide that we cannot even see, and yet, with our obedience could save them. There are others that just need a good friend, and yet, with our disobedience could lead them to a deeper depressed state.

If there is anyone around you that you know NEEDS your help, I urge you to get out of your comfort zone and reach out to them. It is never too late to lend a helping hand. It is never too late to lead someone to Christ. Don’t let the enemy devour up any more of our people. Don’t let the enemy let people be persuaded in these horrible mental states, which put themselves in a pit, ready to be taken from us and this world. Make the effort to win hearts to Christ, just as someone did for you. Show the same love and kindness. Never give up on the fight to see them saved. I encourage you this day.

Leaders Arise!

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There have been so many times in my life where I have felt so out of place and lost with no direction. During those times of confusion, I always turn to God to show me the right way out, for God provides the way of escape through anything that we are going through. I could not tell you the amount of times in recent days that I have heard from people that tell me that they feel “lost” in their calling. So if you need this today, this message is for you.

By our instinctive nature, it is our natural ability to follow those around us when we feel as though we are lost. There will be times when your friends and family will be able to bail you out of a situation that is bigger than you. And in that case, that’s all good by all means, don’t get me wrong. Unfortunately though, there are going to be times that the people that you are following are just as lost as you are.

As God has shown me as of late, there comes a point in your individual ministry where you stop being the follower and start becoming a leader. I’ve now realized that as time has went by that there are many that are watching my every move, listening to my every word, and are keeping track of just how close that I am staying to God. One thing is for sure, there is no greater pleasure to someone that likes to persecute your beliefs than to point out your shortcomings.

The difference between the leader and the follower is where you point the finger when everything goes wrong. When you come short and you fail, who are you blaming for the failure?

When you are the follower, you point your finger at someone else and say, “Well, I thought it was okay because they were doing it” I use to try and blame everything but the kitchen sink when I would mess up, but I’m learning more and more that it is none other than me.

When you are a leader, you point the finger at yourself, and realize that you have to improve on your example so the others around you will not falter by the same mistakes. The quicker that we begin to realize this small concept, the faster that we can move forward in becoming stronger examples for people that are all around us to follow, and for others to be able to be drawn to Christ.

So where are you standing with God? Where does your mind stand during the day? Does God have to go to great measures to try and speak to you, simply just to get your attention?

There is no better time than now that we as the followers of God become leaders to the world!

Numbers 27:16-17

[16] Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
[17] Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

As Moses was asking of God, I ask of you today, stand with me, and be those people that will help lead the people out the bondage that they face today. Stand as leaders, and be not followers of the world, but followers of Christ. Stand boldly in your calling, and don’t give up to the enemy!  God be with you, and never give up!

Go Against The Tide

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It has been very interesting lately for me to observe conversations of people that I am around to really understand the point of view from someone who walks with unbelief. Most of the time I will pray for all of the people that I am concerned for, the ones that are lost, as we all do. But as I continue to try and draw closer to God every day and learn more about what I need to do to improve, I am stirred by the thoughts that I have been given.

When we go with the tide of the world, we are as the world, and take of its appearance. When we go against the tide of the world, even though the waves crash hard on us, we become separated, and have the ability to finally stand out and be a people that can draw others to God. We often forget that we are with the Master of the sea, the very one who created the waters of the world. Let me try and break this down a little bit more.

You can go and attend all the church services, sing songs, preach messages, teach lessons, blog your ideals, and broadcast your beliefs to the world; but ultimately there is only one true representation of what people will really be drawn by. When it comes right down to it, how you live your life every single day with how you act and what you do is the complete definition of your Christian life.

In other words, there are going to be moments every single day where you will make or break someone’s decision to make Christ their Savior in their life. There are going to also be moments where someone that hasn’t been where they should be with God continues to stay that way simply because of the behavior they observe from you.

They might see you going through all of the motions of being a “Christian”, but where is the virtue that is talked about in the scriptures:

John 4:15-21

[15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
[16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
[17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
[18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
[19] We love him, because he first loved us.
[20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
[21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

The most important thing to remember in your everyday life is to carry that virtue, to remember that while going and doing all of the things that God has called you to do, while also walking an upright life before him and setting a good example in front of others, that every bit of this must be done with LOVE.

People need to see the virtue of love in our lives, that spirit of charity. For when that love is in our hearts, it will be able to handle all of the situations where anger or impatience would normally try to come in and ruin the example that we try to show. When we go against the tide and fight things with love and patience, with the faith that we are going to make it through, they will be drawn to our belief that we serve a God that will bring us through. That is what draws people, not the fact that we attend church every single time, or that we are efficient or great in all the talents that God has given us. Everyone is good at something; it’s how people handle situations that make people be drawn to it.

Go against the tide, be a believer in God, and know that the example you show is being watched every single day, and that we are held accountable! It’s so important to remember this last scripture:

Luke 6:22

[22] Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

The Whipping

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Welcome to the Heart of Grace Devotional.  Today I would like for us to think about the price Jesus paid for you and me.  I want to share a story with you today that will help us see more clearly how Jesus took our place. There was a school with a class of students that no teacher had been able to handle. Two or three teachers had been run off from this school in one year by the unruly students. A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to the school.

The principal asked the young man, “Do you know what you are asking for? No one else has been able to handle these students. You are just asking for a terrible beating.” After a few moments of silent prayer, the young man looked at the principal and said, “Sir, with your consent I accept the challenge. Just give me a trial basis.”

The next morning the young man stood before the class. He said to the class, “Young people, I came here today to conduct school. But I realize I can’t do it by myself. I must have your help.” One big boy they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered to his buddies, “I won’t need any help. I can lick that little bird all by myself.”

The young teacher told the class that if they were to have school, there would have to be some rules to go by. But he also added that he would allow the students to make up the rules and that he would list them on the blackboard. This was certainly different, the students thought! One young man suggested, “NO STEALING.” Another one shouted “BE ON TIME FOR CLASS.” Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the board.

The Teacher then asked the class what the punishment should be for breaking these rules. “Rules are no good unless they are enforced, he said.” Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they should receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off. The teacher thought that this was pretty harsh, so he asked the class if they would stand by this punishment. The class agreed.

Everything went along pretty good for two or three days.  Then Big Tom came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen his lunch. After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion that little Timmy had stolen Big Tom’s lunch… Someone had seen little Timmy with Big Tom’s lunch! The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the room. Little Timmy admitted he had taken Big Tom’s lunch.

So the teacher asked him, “Do you know the punishment?” Little Timmy nodded that he did. “You must remove your coat”, the teacher instructed. The little fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said to the teacher, “I am guilty and I am willing to take my punishment, but please don’t make me take off my coat.”

The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and again told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like a man. The little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he did so, the teacher saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat. And even worse, he saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. The teacher asked little Timmy why he had come to school without a shirt on. Little Timmy replied, “My daddy’s dead and my mother is very poor, I don’t have but one shirt, and my mother is washing it today. I wore my big brother’s coat so that I could keep warm.”

The young teacher stood and looked at the frail back with the spine protruding against the skin, and his ribs sticking out. He wondered how he could lay a rod on that little back and without even a shirt on. Still, he knew he must enforce the punishment or the children would not obey the rules. So he drew back to strike little Timmy. Just then Big Tom stood up and came down the aisle. He asked, “Is there anything that says that I can’t take little Timmy’s whipping for him?” The teacher thought about it and agreed. With that Big Tom ripped his coat off and stooped and stood over little Timmy at the desk. Hesitatingly the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back. But for some strange reason after only five licks that old rod just broke in half. The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob.  He heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the room. Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck apologizing to him for stealing his lunch. Little Timmy begged Big Tom to forgive him. He told Big Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking his whipping for him.

Aren’t you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us?  That He shed His precious blood on Calvary so that you and I can have eternal life in Glory with Him? We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren’t you glad He loves us that much?

Isaiah 53:3 tells us that:

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”