God Is Not Politically Correct

by Dr. Larry Ollison 

    

God has not changed. The things He disapproved of during the time of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Paul, He still disapproves of today. God is not an evolving creature that changes His character depending upon His environment. God's Word always has been and will always be true. 

Growing up in the United States of America, I have become accustomed to democracy. We vote on everything. In America everyone from school leaders to community leaders to state leaders to national leaders, all are in their positions because they were the most popular. Growing up in this society tends to make one think that if something is popular, it’s right. When it comes to character, righteousness, and the spiritual things of God, nothing could be further from the truth. God's kingdom is not a democracy.

Everything God created was created by and for His Son, Jesus. We were created to fellowship with Him. It may come as a shock to some people, but in the Kingdom of God, God is the King. We don’t vote on the rules. We don’t debate the rules. We don’t argue the rules. Our duty is to willingly obey the rules of the King.

The good news is, God is a good God and He rewards those who believe in Him and receive His Son by faith with eternal life and a multitude of good gifts. God is the God of love. In fact, God is love. God is a good God and He is just. God is light and God is love. However, God is not politically correct nor will He ever be.

 

So the point is this. When you come to the point of decision in your life on any subject, never make your decision because of what is politically correct. Make you decision based on what the Word of God says. Only then will you choose correctly.

Reference Scriptures

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth. (Philippians 2:9-10)

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8)

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (John 1:5)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. (Psalm 7:11)

Stay Away from Strange Women

(Proverbs 5:2-14)
  Her description
God describes the strange woman in verses 2-6. The word strange is equated with the word stranger. She does not behave as a proper Christian young lady should. The stranger was someone from another land and did not know the law of God, therefore, her dress was seductive, her actions were aggressive, and her words were sensual.
  1. She has sweet lips.
She knows what to say to entice a man.
  2. Her mouth is smoother than oil.
She knows exactly how to speak and what to talk about. Some things are not appropriate topics between men and women. When a person is married, they should be careful about complementing the opposite sex, “nice hair,” “nice clothes,” or “nice perfume.” Do not discuss your relationship problems with the opposite sex. Do not discuss bedroom furniture, your empty house, or things that excite you. These are the topics of the strange women.
  3.    Her ways are moveable according to verse 6.
You cannot know what she will do next. You cannot expect her to stay with you. You cannot build your life with her, because you do not know how long she will be around.
  Her effect on your life
In verses 4-14, Solomon tells us a strange women will affect the life of a young man.
1. She will be bitter as wormwood.
The word wormwood means a bitter curse.
  2. She will be as sharp as a two-edged sword.
The word two-edged means “mouth.” She will be sharp tongued. The tongue that is flattering now will tear you up later.
  3. Her feet (her way) is to death - the death of the soul.
Your mind, your will, and your emotions will be affected terribly. Her ways will bring death to your family and marriage.
  4. Her steps take hold on Hell according to verse 5.
Take hold means there is a continual attachment. Your life will be a living Hell if you get involved with this type of women.

Solomon goes on to say in verse 6, that because her ways are moveable, you will be unstable. You will give your honor away according to verse 9. You will live a life that is cruel. You will work hard and make other people wealthy. Strangers will take your hard earned money. In verse 11, he says you will mourn, because you will have sexually transmitted diseases. You will grieve, because you did not listen to wisdom. You will wonder aloud why everyone is happy and you are not, according to verse 14.

How should you respond to her?
God’s Word is clear. Remove far from her. Do not come near her door.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Enjoy Your Married Life

Proverbs 5:15-19
Enjoy Your Married Life

In verses 2-14, God tells us to avoid sexual immorality. In verses 15-19, God tells us to enjoy sex in the marriage relationship. Dr. Wemp preached a message entitled Love, Courtship, Romance, and Sex. He used this particular passage to talk about marital intimacy. God is very clear. He wants us to enjoy the marriage relationship. If we do, it will keep us from sexual sin.
  1. Drink waters out of thine own cistern or your own sink.
God wants you to enjoy your own wife. Ladies, do not get upset when your husband wants to enjoy you, look at you, be with you, and touch you.
  2. Drink running waters out of thine own well.
See to it that your wife has all that she needs to satisfy you. Take care of her, and maintain the well.
  3. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
That very simply means produce children from your loving relationship and have lots of kids.
  4. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
God is definitely against wife swapping. God hates divorce. Read Malachi 2. The indication here is stay with one wife, and let no one else touch her.
  5. Let thy fountain be blessed
Your children will be happy and well spoken of if you stay married to the woman you are married to.
  6. Rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Have fun with the wife you are married to while you are young, sexual fun and otherwise.
  7. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe
Enjoy looking at her. Her beauty and her shape were made for you to enjoy.
  8. Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times.
Think about her all the time, her and only her, as a young couple, and as an old couple. Think about her, and let your thoughts about her satisfy you.
  9. Be thou ravished always with her love.
The word ravished means to be lead about. The idea is be passionate. Allow your passions to run wild with your wife.

God is very clear that the marriage relationship is holy. It is undefiled. It is wonderful. A man and woman should never think of their relationship with one another is dirty or unclean. It is right for a husband to have a passionate, loving desire for his wife. If he is not right with his wife, then it will lead to immorality, which we will discuss in the next lesson.

Your Friend,
David Teis

The Consequences of Immorality - Proverbs 5:20-23

In our introduction to Proverbs 4, we listed some of the consequences of immorality in our nation [the USA].
- We have a fifty percent divorce rate
- We have unstable children
- There are sexually transmitted diseases
- We have a culture filled with unhappy, hurting, and discontented people

In verses 23-27 of Proverbs chapter 5, tells us the sad end of a man who chooses to live an immoral lifestyle.

Let me say that it is obvious that anyone who is involved in any type of sexual perversion will suffer severe consequences. By sexual perversion, I mean anything beyond what God has established, which is one man and one woman. Proverbs 5:20, asks why do you love another woman with passion and not your wife?

Our culture leads men to look and desire things that are contrary to the Word of God. God reminds us in verse 21, that the ways of man are before the Lord. He knows your desires and the right way to fulfill them. He says enjoy your wife. He sees what you are doing elsewhere. He knows everywhere that you are going. One way to avoid sin is by keeping that knowledge in your mind daily.

The self-will of the wicked will bind him. His sin will control him. God does not want us to be controlled by any outside source except Him. He goes on to say, he will die without instruction, which is without correction. His life will never be correct.

Beyond that, He says that the more he sins, the more his sin will bring him down the wrong path. Immorality is devastating to the individual, to the individual’s spouse, and to the individual’s family. Avoid it with everything that is in you.

Daily surrender yourself to the control of the Holy Spirit, and you can overcome this devastating sin.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Proverbs 6 - Do Not Ever Co-Sign a Note

In order to succeed in life, there are certain do’s and don’ts that we must all follow. If we ignore these admonitions, we will find ourselves less than successful. As we study Proverbs 6 and 7, you will see that He warns us over and over again about finances, immorality, and laziness. We will examine these subjects each time they are brought up, so we can get God’s perspective.

Proverbs 6 has six big DO NOTS. Let us look at the first one today:
  Do Not Ever Co-Sign a Note
In thirty-seven years of ministry here in Las Vegas, there have been many times people have asked me to co-sign on a loan. It was to help them out of a tight situation they found themselves in financially. Because of this passage of Scripture, we have made it a policy never to co-sign. If I cannot give someone the money they need, than I should never put my name on a note that will put me in worse financial shape than I am right now. If I cannot give it, I will not lend it.

Verse 1 - God says that you should not go with a friend to a stranger and promise that he will pay with your name as guarantee.

Verse 2 - Your words will trap you. Remember Proverbs 22:11, says, “the borrower is servant to the lender.”

You may be reading this and thinking - What if I have already done this? Solomon answers that question.
1. He says, “Get out of the situation as soon as you can.”

2. Humble yourself before your friend. Tell him you cannot afford this. Often times, our pride causes us to over commit in areas God does not want us to commit.

3. Make sure your friend - the words make sure means to strengthen or to help his pride. Let your friend know he can do it without you. Strengthen him. Let him see he is as good or better than you are and he does not need your help. If he cannot get the loan on his own then you certainly do not want to help him get in worse shape than he is in right now.

4. Solomon goes on to say, this is more important than sleep. He says in verse 4, “Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe.” You are like a roebuck or a gazelle. You are being hunted. Run from co-signing like you would if you were a deer, and you saw a man with a gun aiming it at your head. RUN. RUN. RUN. Never co-sign a loan.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Proverbs 6:6-11 - Do Not Be Lazy

The Christian should be no stranger to hard work. In this passage of Scripture, we are instructed to learn how to live by watching the ant. “Go to the ant thou sluggard.” The wordsluggard means lazy person. He tells us to consider her ways and see them from God’s perspective. She has no one telling her what to do. She is wise enough to know her responsibilities. She does not get involved in everybody else’s job. She is diligent enough to fulfill her responsibilities. She provides herself food for the summer by gathering her food at harvest time.

I hope you enjoy this poem.
  If you want to eat tomorrow, you must not stop today
If you want to fill your table, you must learn to work not play
There is a time to rest, but very first and best
You must labor for your meat, or expect no food to eat
The ant learns to store food in the good time, to assure plenty in the bad time

They never hinder, but always help one another in their work. They unite to accomplish tasks that are too large for one. They store their goods in places that will be protected. They are wise investors. They know how to preserve their hard earned resources. Ants will bite off the end of the grains of corn that they may not grow when they get wet.

Solomon ends this conversation with a sluggard by saying do not waste your life sleeping. You should learn to be a quick riser. The sleeper winds up in poverty, like the person who travels, like a person fit for destruction.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Do Not Hang with the Wicked Man (Proverbs 6:12-15)

In this passage, Solomon describes the wicked man and warns his son Rehoboam to stay away from him.

1. He is naughty.
He is worthless and good for nothing. It literally means he is a man of Belial.
  2. He is a troublemaker.
He is wicked. The word wicked means troublemaker, self-willed. He causes problems for others.
  3. He walks with a forward mouth.
Forward is a King James word which means crooked or distorted. You cannot trust what is coming out of his mouth. He says one thing to one person and another thing to another person. He is comfortable with distorting the truth.
  4. He will tell you much by his body language.

a. The Bible says, “He winketh with his eyes,”
Watch what he is looking at, and what he will not look at. Be careful about the man who will not look you square in the eye.

b. “He speaketh with his feet,”
Where he is going, tells you a lot about who he is.

c. “he teacheth with his fingers;”
His fingers are grasping on to things that he should not be grabbing on to.
  5. He has forwardness or perverseness in his heart. He devices mischief continually.
He uses his time to cause evil for others. This brings him peace. Be careful of the guy who wants revenge. He delights in causing division according to verse 14.
  6. His end is described in verse 15. His calamity will come suddenly. His disaster will come without notice. He shall be broken with no one to recover.

Stay away from the wicked man.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Do Not Be Part of What God Hates (Proverbs 6:17-19)

This passage of Scripture, describes six things God hates and seven that are an abomination to Him. Let us look at them:

1. A proud look
We should always be thankful and never be proud. Pride indicates that I had something to do with my success. The truth of the matter is all glory should go to God for anything that is accomplished in our lives. We have what we have because of God’s mercy and God’s grace.
  2. A lying tongue
You need to always speak the truth. You do not always need to speak. There is no reason to be deceptive. That does not mean that we should be unkind to someone. Our lips should be seasoned with grace. Lying to cover up your sin or to make yourself look good is something that God hates.
  3. Hands that shed innocent blood
It is sad the number of murders we have in our nation on a yearly basis. It is terrible that we refer to murder as abortion. Abortion is the worst type of murder there is, because it is shedding the life of an innocent child who cannot do anything to protect itself. God hates the shedding of innocent blood. There is a difference between capital punishment and abortion. The difference is innocent blood. God has given the government the power to take care of wicked people, and He has ordained capital punishment.
  4. A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations
This describes the person that gets pleasure out of hurting others. Revenge has no place in the Christian’s heart.
  5. Feet that be swift running to mischief - that is evil
God hates those that are looking to do wrong.
  6. A false witness that speaketh lies
It is one thing to not tell the truth. God hates that, but here, He specifically says He hates those who tell lies about other people.
  7. He that soweth discord among the brethren
God hates it when someone causes division between brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do not be part of something that God hates.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Do not forget the commandments of GOD

Today, many people talk about the fact that we are free from the law and that is true. The only way a person can get to Heaven is by putting their faith and trust in what Jesus Christ did for us. He suffered, died, and paid the penalty of our sin in our place. He rose from the dead and was seen by hundreds of people. The only way you can get to Heaven is by calling on Him and asking Him to be your Lord, Saviour, and God.

 

However, that does not discount the commandments of God. God has given us commandments and statues in order to benefit our lives. However, we are not saved by keeping the commandments; commandments give us God’s view point of life. If you want to know God’s opinion, study the law of God.

In this passage, we are told to keep the law of God close (verse 21). If we do, it will benefit us in several ways:

1. It will lead you as you travel.

2. It will guard you as you sleep.

3. It will talk to you when you are awake.

4. It will be a lamp to enlighten you along your path.

5. It will be a light to show you where to go and how to avoid tragedy.

6. It will show you how to really live.

Do not forget the commandments of God.

Your Friend,

David Teis

Proverbs 21:20

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. -Proverbs 21:20

Over 30 years ago, Ron England of Los Angeles, California, bet his brother he could save a million pennies. Twenty thousand rolls of pennies, 13 boxes, a full garage, and 30 years later, England won that bet.

As a result, he now has $10,000 in pennies, and that's the good news. The bad news is that England couldn't find anyone to take his 3.5 tons of accumulated copper without costing him a "pretty penny," so to speak. Now, England is stuck with a million pennies.

Saving your money is a good thing, although you might not want to use the approach mentioned above. The bottom line is that in our country, most people actually spend more each month than they earn. Some people can operate under these circumstances because of their wealth. But this is not true for most of us.

Proverbs 21:20 says that a wise man or woman saves, but a fool gets paid and spends everything he or she has. Or a wise person keeps his or her valuables safe in their home, but a fool puts everything out in the yard to sell. 

Whether your income is large or small, it's wise to save a portion. That rainy day will probably come when you need it most for a car repair, doctor visit, or something else. 

Be prepared for what may come so that you can have "stores of choice food and oil" in your house when the need arises. 

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for taking care of you in your time of need. Dedicate to Him your tithes and offerings, and ask Him to bless the money you save for a "rainy day."

Proverb 16:9

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. --Proverb 16:9

You may not remember this, but disabled skiing was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Winter Olympics. A television program preceding the Olympics featured blind skiers being trained for slalom skiing, a discipline that involves skiing between poles spaced close together causing quicker and shorter turns.

It sounded impossible for them, but paired with seeing skiers, the blind skiers were taught on flats how to make right and left turns. When that was mastered, then they were taken to the slalom slope, where their seeing partners skied alongside them and shouted, "Left! Right!"

Because the blind skiers obeyed the commands of those who could see and therefore determine their next move, they were able to navigate the course and cross the finish line. Success or failure was dependent on how much trust the skiers had in their partners.

This is such a great picture of the Christian life, don't you think? We are blind as we navigate our way through this life. On our own, we don't know what lies ahead, which turns to take, or where the finish line is. But Jesus knows the way. He is the only One who can be trusted to see us through and guide our steps.

You may have taken some wrong turns in life. You may have experienced catastrophe when you chose to go your own way. But it's not too late to ask Him to lead you on the right path toward victory in Him! Trust His Word and the Holy Spirit to give you the direction you need to finish the course.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Jesus, take my hand, walk beside me, and lead me on this journey through life. Thank You for being my "eyes" when I can't see what's in front of me or where to go! I praise You for determining each of my steps.

Bless And Do Not Curse

Bless And Do Not Curse
May today’s inspirational message abundantly bless you and greatly inform you. We pray that you will be the better for having read this message. If blessed by today’s message, please share so that others may be blessed as well. Amen.
Bless And Do Not Curse aDevotion.org
ROMANS 12:14 NLT 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.
(Fallen) human nature retaliates. If someone wrongs us, we want revenge.
But children of God, who have the love of God in their hearts, should act differently (Romans 5:5).
1 PETER 3:9 NLT 9 Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.
We have been delivered from the power of darkness and placed in the Kingdom of Love, where Jesus is Lord (Colossians 1:13). Our King desires that all people be blessed (John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9).
God loves the whole world. We are His representatives to give them that message (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). We cannot win the world by cursing them. We are supposed to love them.
JOHN 13:34 NLT 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
We are to love as Jesus loved. Even when treated badly, He never cursed those who mistreated Him.
LUKE 23:34a NLT 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing."
People do evil because they are trapped in spiritual darkness. Our only real enemy is the devil and his forces, not people.
EPHESIANS 6:12 NLT 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Just as Jesus was mistreated, we will not avoid being mistreated in this life.
JOHN 15:17-21 NLT 17 This is my command: Love each other. 18 "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the One who sent me.
1 PETER 2:19-23 NLT 19 For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. 21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
We can expect to suffer the same things Jesus did in life, primarily rejection and mistreatment. (Note that Jesus never suffered sickness or lack during His life, until He died on the cross for us.)
Yet in all this, we can rejoice, knowing that God our Father is just, and He will protect us and reward us for doing His will.
SAY THIS: God loves me, so I can love others, even when they act unlovely.

Watch Ye - 1 Corinthians 16:13

Watch Ye - 1 Corinthians 16:13

INTRODUCTION

In Bible times, cities would often build towers to watch the gates to avoid dangers looming from without (Isaiah 21:8
). Watchmen would take turns watching the gate. These watchmen were responsible for sounding a trumpet should any danger appear (Ezekiel 33:6
). The apostle Paul in his writings applied a spiritual application to this literal act of being a watchman. Just as cities needed men willingly staying awake and alert while others slept or were busy in their daily routines, churches need believers sober and watchful while others might be cumbered about with the cares of this world. Today’s watchmen must use their voices like a trumpet to sound the alarm when danger nears.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): You would warn others not paying attention if they were about to fall over an object they did not see. God’s people can spiritually trip and fall by not paying attention to God’s word or by not obeying God. We should be willing to warn them by using God’s word to instruct them.
• (For everyone): God incorporated specific pronouns to convey His truths. For example, ye conveys the plural. When Paul said, “Watch ye,” to whom was he speaking? Why is it important that we realize Paul was speaking to a group of believers rather than only to an individual?
• Why does your church, family, and community need you to be a watchman? Are there some people in each group who are sleeping during these times of danger? What should you do?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to make you a faithful watchman.
• Ask the Lord to give you a better understanding of watching.

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The Bad Citizenship of Good People

"Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.” - James 4:17 

In our spiritual life, our home life, and our church life, we have duties to perform and commitments to keep. The same is true in our national life. Some people say, "I don't see the perfect candidate, so I'm not voting." If we don't speak – who's left to speak? Jesus said we're to "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's." Our Caesar is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Our government requires our vote.

If a person chooses not to participate when and where the battle is enjoined, then in my estimation, that's disobedience to the Lord. One vote can make a difference.

When is it Right to Disobey?

Over the last few devotionals, we have learned the importance God places on obedience to various authorities.  And an appropriate question is whether there is ever a time when we draw the line when it comes to obeying men. In the Book of Acts, Peter and John got in trouble for preaching Christ. In Acts 5:29, when they were told not to preach anymore, Peter answered and said this, "We ought to obey God rather than men." That is where you draw the line. If you are ever asked to do something that would cause you to be disobedient to God or that would cause you to violate your conscience (not your preference, but your conscience), that is where you draw the line. Paul made a statement that he lived in good conscience before God and before men. Your conscience deals with things you truly believe in your heart are morally right and wrong. If you go against your conscience in one of those things, then that is sin. Stand your ground when it comes to conscience and obedience to God. If people ask you to do something that violates either of these two things—then it is time to take a stand for what you know is right. For example, in many nations of the world, it is illegal to share your faith. It is illegal to win people to Christ.  But Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." We have an allegiance to a higher authority. And when the authorities are telling us to do something that would cause us to disobey God, we obey God, not men.

Guarding Your Heart

(Proverbs 4:23-27)

When I was a teenager, I heard the children’s song “Oh, be careful little eyes what you see. Oh, be careful little ears what you hear. Oh, be careful little feet where you go.” I did not know at that time that that was based on a Bible passage. Proverbs 4:23-27, teaches us how to guard our hearts.

Four principles are outlined here:

1. Keep
Keep means “to guard.” The word heart is talking about the soul of man - his mind, his emotions, and his will. The idea is guard what you think about. Then he goes on to say to do it with all diligence. Work at it. It is not easy to guard your thoughts. However, what you think about will affect your life. Therefore, it is very important that we learn how to guard our thinking process. He does not just give us a simple command to guard what we think about; He tells us how.
  2. Guard what you hear
“Put away from thee a forward mouth and perverse lips put far from thee.” In our world, we are constantly bombarded with different thoughts and philosophies on the radio, on the television, in music, beyond that, on a personal basis through gossip and backbiting. Now we have the world of the internet and ipods. Guard what you listen to, because everything you listen to will affect what you think about.
  3. Guard what you see
In verse 25, “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.” In Las Vegas, we have billboards that are very immoral. I tell our men to put down their sin visors to guard what they look at. It is so easy to be led astray by our eyes by billboards, Facebook, the internet, and television. Remember Jesus said if I look on a woman to lust after her, I have committed adultery in my heart. Be careful to guard where your eyes go.
  4. Guard where you go
Then lastly, in verse 26, he tells us to, “Ponder the path of thy feet” or guard where we go. Do not go where temptation abounds. If being somewhere leads you to do wrong, do not go. It is not a wise thing for a man who is battling with drunkenness to go to a restaurant that is perpetually promoting liquor. Just like, it is not a wise thing for someone that has a gambling problem to make Las Vegas their home. I need to guard what I think about. How do I do that? I guard what I listen to, I guard what I watch, and I guard where I go. Do not sway from these principles. Keep them, and it will keep you from evil.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Meeting With God!... on Holy Ground!

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. "- Mark 1:35

... In today's passage we find a lesson that could do more than anything I know to end spiritual burnout among Christians.  We see the tabernacle set up to be a place of fellowship and communion between God and His people.  It was there they rendered their various religious duties to God.  It was also there that God revealed His will to them.
Leviticus 1 begins with the words, "The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting."  The word translated "called" means God spoke in a still, small voice. No lightning and thunder as on Mount Sinai. This was the gentle voice of God.
 
I have found it a great advantage to have a place set aside in my home where I start the day with a time of Bible reading and prayer.  For a few minutes each day that place becomes my Holy Ground.   For me, that place is in front of my computer.... that is my 'Holy Ground'  for communicating with the Holy Spirit .... for seeking His will for Ed Chandler!

I once knew a young man who was determined to have a daily quiet time alone with God,  so he cleaned up a little storage closet next to the furnace room, put a map of the world on the wall, and placed a little rug on the floor so he could kneel and pray.  Other people complained about the house being too crowded, but he'd found his place to privately meet with God.
If you want to have a daily quiet time, there's really nothing that can stop you.   Ed suggests you find a quiet place in your home where it is just you and our Lord.  ... where Jehovah God can speak to you in that still small voice.... where you can seek HIS WILL ...

Prayer

"Lord, let me hear your still, small voice today as I meditate on Your Word.  Show me Your will for my walk with You this day.  Amen."
 
Where can you stake out a place as holy ground to meet the Lord on a daily basis?  I encourage you to find "that place" where there are no distractions, and where  you can listen for 'that still small voice'  Almighty God is waiting to have a little talk with you this day.

The Marks Of a New Life!

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. - 1 Peter 4:12-13

You know, a lot of strange and sometimes exciting things can happen to you when you're traveling.  In Genesis 32, we find Jacob traveling back home, and he has an experience that is more than just exciting.  Jacob is met by a host of angels.  Then he receives word that his brother, Esau, is heading his way with four hundred men, and he assumes he's in for a battle, which causes him great fear and distress.  But the most amazing thing of all happened while he was alone at night.  He had a wrestling match with an angel, in which he prevailed, his life was preserved, and God blessed him.

In that encounter with God, his life was changed for all time.  No longer would he be Jacob -- the con man, liar, thief.  He was now Israel, a prince who had power with God. But note something significant.  He doesn't begin to beat his chest and flex his muscles and announce to one and all that he had wrestled with God and prevailed.
 

In deep humility and wonder he says, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared" (32:30). Immediately, he begins to show the marks of a new life.  He is a different person.

Today you may be facing a similar encounter with God. It may have come through a sickness, a heartache, the loss of a job, or some other difficult circumstance.... and it hurts. But the very encounters we resist because of their pain are the ones that can lead us to a changed life and a deeper fellowship with the Lord.

Prayer

"Lord, I submit to your correction as to a dear and loving Father.  Amen. "

We are never closer to God than when we are resisting in a spiritual battle through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Sin Doesn’t Cause You Shame

by shani4jc
 

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abominations?  No!  They were not at all ashamed, nor did they know how to blush." Jeremiah 8:12

I've been reading through the book of Jeremiah and although it tells of how Israel turned their back on God, it could easily be mistaken as a story about the United States at the present time.  We, as a nation, have been so richly blessed by the Lord, yet we have chosen to turn our back on Him and follow our own ways.  We have known God's protection and provision, yet we have chosen to go after gods that do not do anything except destroy us.  We have allowed our hearts to be won over by our own desires and have put God on the backburner of our lives.  Our sin has become so commonplace that we fail to even see it as sin anymore.  What would have once shocked most people doesn't even cause us to bat an eye.  Our hearts have grown cold and our consciences have grown so accustomed to our sin that it doesn't bother us in the least bit.  The Scripture above so accurately describes us...we are no longer ashamed of our sin and we are so comfortable with it that it doesn't even cause us to blush.  When I really stop and think about this, it scares me to death.  It scares me because I wonder how long God will let us go on like we are before He issues His wrath.  Even tempered with grace and mercy, His wrath will be fierce.  He will not be mocked.  He will not allow other gods to take His rightful place.  He will not remain silent forever.  Our only prayer is to do what God told the Israelites over and over...repent and turn back to Him with our whole hearts.  He is the only hope for our nation!

Can This Year Really Be Different?

by GLYNNIS WHITWER

"‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing." John 21:3 (NIV)

 

 

Each year as I hang up the blank calendar in my kitchen, empty of appointments but full of promise, I think to myself, This year will be different!

This will be the year I finally finish that house project, exercise consistently, lose weight, pray faithfully, spend more time with friends and so on and so forth. This year has to be better than last year … right?

And yet, for so many years I’d get to March (if I lasted that long) and give up on my goals, feeling like a failure once again.

I got so frustrated because I knew how to do this stuff. I might not do it perfectly, but I can paint a wall, take a walk, put less food in my mouth, sit and pray and schedule time with friends. This isn’t rocket science!

But … for some confusing reason I either stopped trying or kept making the same choices as before, expecting a different result.

I wonder if that’s how the disciples felt the night they went fishing and caught nothing. The story is told in John 21, after Jesus’ death when the disciples had gone to Galilee to wait for His return (which He’d told them about in Matthew 26:32).

While in Galilee, at least on one night, the disciples returned to their old lives … to fishing. They knew how to fish, as they’d done it all their lives, but that night after hours sitting in wooden boats, floating in dark silence, they caught nothing.

The story takes an interesting turn as the sun starts to rise. Jesus stood on the edge of the lake (although they didn’t recognize Him at first). He asked if they’d caught anything, and when He learned they hadn’t, He gave them a simple instruction: "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some" (John 21:6a, NIV).

Scripture doesn’t record the disciples’ thoughts, but I imagine they were confused and a bit annoyed at this piece of advice. After all, they’d been doing everything they knew to do, why should they keep trying? The fish obviously weren’t there!

And yet, they threw their nets on the right side of the boat. This time, in obedience to Jesus, Scripture tells us they caught so many fish they were unable to haul in their nets.

This would have been a nonstory had the disciples ignored the suggestion to try again, but in a slightly different way. They could have insisted they knew how to fish, they knew the water, and they knew the behavior of the fish. Instead, they humbly listened and obeyed. The blessing of the fish was minor in comparison to seeing Jesus and His power at work in their lives again.

This passage encourages me to press pause at the start of the New Year. I’ve already proved I can’t do much in my strength. So before I go back to my old ways, forging ahead, certain I just need to try harder, I want to stop and seek Jesus’ direction and help.

As I look back on my life, those are the times I’ve seen the Lord work in the greatest ways. When I admit my natural strength isn’t enough, God’s supernatural strength is evident.

So maybe this year things can be different. Not because I’ve got a new game plan or brilliant strategy. I haven’t found a short-cut or an app to make things easier. Maybe the difference is simpler than that. Instead of looking to myself, I need to wait on Jesus. Not just in the big questions and problems, but in everyday, seemingly mundane choices.

As the disciples learned that morning, we are never far from success when we allow Jesus to direct our course.

Dear Lord, I’m so sorry I’ve lived much of my life guided by my own direction, while You have always been there offering wisdom and power. I want to become a woman who looks to You first before trying harder in my own strength. I need Your help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7:8, "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." (NLT)

When You Feel Inadequate

by Ann Spangler

I’ve been writing books for many years. Despite what you might think, it doesn’t get any easier as time goes on. What hampers me most is my lack of faith. Face-to-face with a blank computer screen, I have a mini crisis of faith each morning, certain that I haven’t got a thing to say that’s worth reading. I’ll send e-mails, make phone calls, walk the dog, pay bills, eat a banana—anything as long as I don’t have to start writing. Finally, when I can’t dodge it anymore, I’ll open up the latest file, see where I left off, and ask God to help me. After a while, the writing usually begins to flow.

For most of us, life is full of such miniature faith crises. We doubt we can do what God has called us to do—to show patience to our children, understanding to our husbands, skill in our work, wisdom in times of trouble. And we’re right. We don’t have enough of what we need. So we stall and make excuses and try to dodge our responsibility, which only increases our anxiety.

To be human is to be inadequate. It is to be limited. It is to be weak in many respects. When we look at our deficiencies, there’s ample cause for concern. But instead of training our eyes on our weakness, we need to train our eyes on God’s strength and on his promises to love and provide. So today, as always, we come before his throne, asking him to fill our emptiness with his fullness and to trade our weakness for his power. Today we take a small step of faith so God can give us his strength.  

Worrying Out Loud

Ann Spangler

Jen burst into the room, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t stand my life!” she exclaimed.
Wondering whether her daughter was suffering from hormone overload or something worse, her mother asked what on earth was wrong.
“You!” the daughter shot back.

Probing further, it became clear to my friend that her teenage daughter was in a state of high anxiety. Pouring out her fears, this young girl told her mother that she was worried about school, anxious about a grandparent in failing health, concerned about the family business, wondering whether there would be enough money for college and whether the economy might collapse. She just couldn’t handle it anymore.

“But, honey,” my friend said, “you don’t have to handle it. Don’t worry about Grandpa. Your dad and I are taking care of him. And our business is doing well. I promise there will be enough money for college. The economy isn’t great, but it’s getting better. What made you so upset about all these things?”

“You!” came the emphatic reply, once again. “You’re always complaining about the business, about Grandpa’s health, and about how terrible the economy is!”

My friend was stunned. She hadn’t realized that her words of complaint and concern had been driving a stake of anxiety into her daughter’s sensitive heart, causing her to worry about issues that no thirteen-year-old should have to deal with.

When it comes to complaints, none of us have a clean slate. But perhaps we can take this story to heart, realizing the power that words have to erode the peace of those we love. Today, let’s ask the Lord to place a guard on our lips, so that whatever comes out of them builds up rather than tears down.

Where Your Heart Is

by shani4jc

My daughter is currently on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa. The team she is with has been able to provide a Vacation Bible School for the children and a medical clinic for the people in one of the villages. We have been blessed to be able to talk to her every day on the phone or via text message. I have to admit that some of the stories she has shared have really opened my eyes to exactly how much I have to be thankful for. She told us that these people basically have nothing, yet they are some of the happiest people she has ever known. This one statement really made me stop and think of how much I have and how I can become so consumed with having "stuff", that I forget to be grateful for it all. I take for granted all of the conveniences in my life and sometimes, instead of thanking God for it all, I complain because someone else has something I don't have or I complain because I have to try and keep up with all of the possessions I do have, all the while wanting more possessions! It's so easy to set our hearts on things that are just temporary...things that one day will be gone instead of setting our hearts on the things that truly matter...eternal things.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

from https://shani4jc.wordpress.com/author/shani4jc/

Click on the link to read other Devotionals and/or get her emailed Devotional

Question: "What does the Bible say about procrastination?"

Answer: Procrastination is “the act of willfully delaying the doing of something that should be done,” and in some people it is a habitual way of handling any task. While the word itself is not found in the Bible, we can find some principles to help guide us.

Sometimes, procrastination is the result of laziness, and the Bible has plenty to say about that. The Bible commends hard work and industry (Proverbs 12:24; 13:4) and warns against sloth and slackness (Proverbs 15:19; 18:9). One cure for procrastination is more diligence, regardless of the task. The Christian should be supremely motivated to be diligent in his work, since he is ultimately serving the Lord. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). If we put our hearts into our work, as this verse says to do, we will probably find it difficult to procrastinate too much.

The Bible says that when it comes to some things, we should never delay. Jesus taught that reconciling with an offended brother should be done immediately upon our remembrance of the situation (Matthew 5:23-24). He also said to “settle matters quickly” with our adversaries (verse 25). However distasteful it may be to pursue peace with an enemy, we must avoid stalling. Similarly, we are instructed, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26). Dealing appropriately with our anger is a matter of great importance, and we must not put it off until tomorrow, which will give the devil “a foothold” (verse 27).

Christians must not procrastinate when it comes to sharing the gospel with the lost. There is no time to waste. Jesus likened evangelistic efforts to a man inviting people to a great banquet. As he sent out his servants with the invitations, he said, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke 14:21). The most striking qualities of the invitation are its openness (anyone and everyone was invited) and its urgency (the call to the feast must go out “quickly”).

Some people, upon hearing the gospel and knowing their spiritual need, delay in making a response. This is the most dangerous type of procrastination. Life is short, and we do not know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:13-14). The Bible urges us to get right with God today. “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion’” (Heb 3:12-13, 15). To procrastinate and put off getting right with God is to harden one’s own heart.

Jesus could return at any time; we do not know when (Luke 12:40). Our Lord illustrated the importance of being prepared for His coming in Matthew 25:1-13. In this parable, ten virgins await the arrival of the bridegroom and the commencement of the wedding feast. Five of the virgins were prepared for his arrival; five did not attempt to prepare until it was too late, and they were left behind. Jesus calls the unprepared virgins “foolish”; one reason they were unprepared may have been that they procrastinated.

So in the matter of our spiritual life, we dare not procrastinate. It is also unwise to delay healing a broken relationship or dealing with anger. And since our service to God motivates all we do, we have no reason to procrastinate. In short, procrastination is a bad habit that can have eternal effects.

Let’s Celebrate!

by Mary Southerland

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over(Psalm 23:5, NKJV).

Friend to Friend
The thought of hosting a large dinner party makes me want to lock the front door and run for the hills. It is just not “my thing.” But over the years, I have learned how to entertain small groups and now absolutely love doing it.
My friend, Michelle, is the consummate hostess. She makes entertaining look so easy. To her, a dinner party for 50 guests is a simple feat. Just shoot me now!
One of Michelle’s favorite preparations is the dinner table. When I’m expecting company, the first guests to arrive often have the honor of setting the table with whatever they can find in the way of tablecloths, silverware, glasses, and … you get the idea. Not Michelle. I’ve seen her table completely and beautifully arranged days before the anticipated dinner party or holiday meal. When I asked her why she went to such elaborate lengths her answer made me stop and think: “It is part of the celebration for me. I love having the table set early because every time I walk past it, I think of the people who will sit in those chairs and I pray for them. I think of their favorite dishes and look forward to preparing each one. I guess you could say that I enjoy the party long before it begins.” That is the idea behind praise.
Many life battles are lost because our confidence and faith in God are eroded under the persistent battering of daily stressful situations. We often fail to recognize and embrace the truth that God defines and refines us through each battle in life.
If the battle truly belongs to God, we win! We win before the first shot is fired. We win before one step of the battle plan is taken.
I would naturally assume that a victory banquet would be held after the victory was won. However, the Hebrew people blew that idea right out of the water when they held victory banquets before the battle even began.
If I had been there, I would have surmised that the Hebrews were either ridiculously arrogant or people of great faith. The truth is that there was an anointing on their lives, a sign of being chosen by God. And because they were a chosen people, their faith grew strong and freed them to stand on the undeniable truth that they could count on their God. Celebrating the battle’s outcome was simply a matter of celebrating God, acknowledging His power on their lives, and walking by faith in the victory provided before the battle was even fought.
We are a chosen people, created by the hand of God. We can sit down at the table of victory every moment of every day because no matter what happens, if God is for us – we win!
I believe our faith is measured by how we handle each battle that comes our way. It may be a skirmish to carry out God’s holy vision, a war against those who seek to undermine God’s calling, or the age-old conflict of good versus evil.

The battlefield is not nearly as important as our choice to align ourselves with God’s plan and step out in faith of the battle already won. That’s where praise comes in.

We can praise God for what He will do long before He does it. We can prepare a victory table before the battle begins, knowing that the battle belongs to our God.
And don’t you know that a pre-battle victory party irritates the fire out of the enemy? I love that!

It is said that in Africa a tree produces the “taste berry,” a unique fruit that literally alters taste buds so that everything that’s eaten after eating the berry tastes good and sweet. Praise is the “taste berry” of the Christian’s life.

When our hearts are filled with praise and when we choose to praise God, every fear and doubt fades into the background of a battle won before it begins.

Let’s Pray

Father, I come to You today, praising You for Your presence in my life. Right now, I celebrate the victory You have already won in every battle I am facing. I choose against my human fear and tendency to demand proof of Your presence in my life and Your power at work. I am stepping out in faith and praising You.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

What battle are you facing in your life today? Set aside time to spend with God, praising Him for the victory He promises. Share that promised victory with at least one girlfriend today. Don’t wait until you feel like it. Step out in faith and praise Him!

Read Psalm 100:4-5 (NLT) and make it your prayer today. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.”

More from the Girlfriends

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