Tag: Devotionals

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Watch Your Intellect

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. ~ Proverbs 3:5-8

Something I’ve noticed and been thinking more and more about recently, is that the more book smart someone is, the more they seem to struggle with understanding the Bible and who God is. I guess sometimes God doesn’t fit our logic. Well, I think a lot of the time, He doesn’t. God does things that we just don’t understand. He does things we disagree with. And what I’ve been really noticing is the smarter someone is, the harder it is for them to fully trust God at His Word, so they use their own logic and their own understanding.

Learning and growing intellectually is important but never let that get to your head. Never let it blind you from seeing the Truth of who God is. Never let it create your own truth. It’s very easy to put your own ideas in the Bible. Here’s what I mean. It’s very easy to twist Scripture to make it say what you want, especially when you are very smart. It’s also very easy to believe that what you have twisted and misinterpreted is correct and truth.

So, what should we do? Stop seeking intellectualism? No. We should always seek to become more knowledgeable, but we should always make sure that our source for understanding is God and not our own wisdom. For the foolishness of God is greater than the wisdom of man. So, don’t think more of yourself than you ought, always humble yourself before God seeking His Truth and not your own. Seeking His wisdom and not your own. That is the only way we can walk a straight path back to Him.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Watch Your Intellect.

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Forsake Your Idea of God

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” ~ Exodus 3:14

As a child one of the greatest trilogies to be released was Spy Kids. I still watch it as an adult. In the second movie they introduce a character, Romero, who created genetically modified animals such as spider-monkeys, slizzards, flying pigs, etc. He had originally created them to be miniature to sell a unique petting zoo for children, but he accidentally made them grow very large when he spilled chemicals on them. Because of this, he became frightened of his own creation and hid from them ever since.

When he meets the two main characters, Carman and Junie, he poses a question to them, “Do you think God stays in heaven because he too lives in fear of what he’s created?” I think he perfectly sums up the average person today. Not that the average person believes God is afraid of us but that the average person sees God through their own experience and therefore makes false comparisons, creating wrong ideas of who God is and how He sees us.

See, we can’t all just decide how we see God and each person’s own opinions are all right. If one sees Him as loving and good, while the other sees Him as malevolent and evil, those are two contradicting ideas that cannot both be true. So, how can we know whose opinion of God is correct? It’s very simple actually. No one’s opinion of God is right. It’s God’s own description of Himself that is the sole Truth. It doesn’t matter what we think God is or should be or what we what Him to be. It matters who He is.

How do we know who He is? We read the Word He gave us. The Bible. The Word of God that has not been changed nor corrupted. The Word of God that is infallible, without error or contradiction. That is what we base our belief of God on. We throw aside our own opinions for the Truth of God. We deny our flesh, pick up our cross, and follow Him.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Forsake Your Idea of God.

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Open Your Eyes To See

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. ~ Genesis 3:1-6

The enemy uses the same tricks and traps for us today that he has used for millenias. He will highlight what you don’t have and blind you from all that you do have. Even the secular world sees and recognizes this.Take, for instance, Tim Burton’s Coraline. The entire premise of the movie is that evil will slip in when we are unhappy and discontent with life, promising us everything we don’t have, and then stealing the one thing we cannot live without, our souls.

Just as the enemy slipped in some doubt with Eve, enough for her to eat the forbidden fruit, it is the same with us today. The enemy blinds us from all that we have and focuses us on all that we don’t. Focusing us on the disappointments, the let downs, the emptiness, blinding us from the love, blessings, and gifts from above.

Just as Coraline’s end was death, if she had completely fallen into the trap of the Beldam, so will our end be death if we completely fall into the trap of the enemy. See, the enemy will show you temporary happiness, excitement, and satisfaction. The end however will be death. An eternal death.

Are you being fooled by the enemy or have you seen through the enemy’s disguise? Seek the Scriptures, pray, spend time with the LORD and you will find the answer.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Open Your Eyes To See.

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Seek Food And Security

4 But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ~ Matthew 4:4

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ~ Ephesians 6:10-18

No matter how long or how short of a time my dog is outside, as soon as she comes in, she checks one of two things immediately. If she heard, saw, or smelled one of us in the kitchen or eating food of any kind, she checks her snack bowl to see if someone gave her something. She could’ve just finished eating, and it wouldn’t matter. She’s checking for food. The other thing she checks is the front window that can see the door, driveway, lawn, etc. These are the two things she checks, without fail, as she comes inside. Food and security. How many of us can say the same thing? How often do we check our own spiritual food and security?

Paul tells us that we are in a spiritual war, whether we like it or not. Whether we signed up or not. We are each born into a spiritual war. That means that in order to even begin to fight back in this spiritual war, we need a spiritual weapon, we need armor to protect ourselves. How do we obtain armor? By feeding our spirit and starving our flesh. When we feed our spirit, we strengthen our faith, righteousness, and our connection/relationship with God. How do we do this? By reading, studying, meditating on, and putting into practice the Word of God.

When we learn the Word of God, it begins to change us. It begins to strengthen our faith because we learn who God is through His Word. He didn’t leave us here to figure things out by ourselves. To just guess and each one deciding what is right and wrong in their own eyes. No. God has given us the tools, plans, and Words from His very own lips in order to help us find Him. So, dwell in the Word and put on the armor, so that this war might not overtake you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Seek Food And Security.

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Find True Knowledge

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. ~ Hosea 4:6

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Tonight, many Christians will dress up with their children and take them trick-or-treating. They will go door to door dressed up asking for candy. What’s the big deal? They’ll say God is God regardless of the day. Here’s the thing. It’s not about the day but the celebration. A celebration rooted in Paganism and lighted up for the Church to participate in.

We even received a comment claiming that Halloween is a Christian Holiday that has been darkened by the world. They then went on to say they see no issue with allowing your children to dress up, have fun, and get candy, just don’t let them dress up demonically. Here’s the problem with that, the origins of Halloween aren’t Christian, they’re Pagan. It’s the ancient Gaelic Festival of Samhain where they would dress up demonically, including masks, in order to hide from demonic entities. They would leave out sweet treats on their front porch in hopes of appeasing these dark forces on this dark night.

The festival was later changed to All Hallow’s Eve by the Roman Catholic Church when they colonized the area, making the next day All Souls Day. They attempted to lighten up the darkness, by changing its name and parts of the festival. This then was brought over to America with Gaelic immigrants and eventually became the Halloween we know today.

God looked over His people and lamented, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Today is no different. They like the people of God of the past are destroyed by lack of knowledge, not because they have no access to it, but because they reject it. They don’t want the Truth, they want their ears tickled. They want their own thoughts, opinions, and desires to be justified and supported.

We’ve been given very clear instructions to pick up our cross and follow Christ, not justify the desires of the flesh. We are told to crucify the flesh and hold every thought captive to obey Christ, not allow our thoughts and opinions to dictate our beliefs. We are to be the body of Christ, it’s time we begin to act like it.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Find True Knowledge.

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A “Hallow” Deception

15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:15-23

As Halloween gets closer you see more and more of a division in the Church. One side is shouting we want to celebrate Halloween, while the other says we (the Church) has no business celebrating darkness and Pagan holidays. One side argues that Halloween is just a fun holiday for kids to dress up and get candy, while the other claims that just because you lighten up darkness doesn’t mean it’s not still darkness. But what does the Bible say?

Well, Scripture tells us to not take part in evil. We are told not to follow the pagan world in their practices lest we be led astray. See it’s not what you do claim the celebration means to you, it doesn’t change the true meaning of the celebration. It’s similar to how the Jews today try to change the feasts of God like renaming Yom Teruah to Rosh Hashanah and changing the meaning/observance of The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot). Or how the LGBTQIA+ has claimed the rainbow as their symbol of pride. Just because you say something means a certain thing to you, doesn’t change the actual meaning of that thing. It doesn’t change what it is or what it means/represents.

If you do celebrate Halloween, ask yourself:

Is this helpful to me?
Does it build me up?
Does it bring glory to the LORD?
Am I taking part in Paganism?
Am I trying to eat from both the table of demons and of the LORD?

Darkness is darkness and evil is evil no matter how you try to spin it. Even if you put lipstick on a pig, it will remain a pig. No matter how hard you try, you cannot change the origin of a celebration.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Do Not Be Beguiled.

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Step To Greatness

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.” ~ Joshua 1:1-2

So, now the people of Israel are without a leader, this is where Joshua comes in. Joshua wasn’t from the Tribe of Judah, but from the Tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:1-16). He wasn’t one of the heads of the tribes either. The head of the Tribe of Ephraim was Elishama. So, what made Joshua stand out? He was dedicated to Moses and to God.

When the LORD would come down in the Pillar of Cloud on the Tent of Meeting and the people would rise up, stand outside their tents facing the tent of Meeting and worship, after they were done, they would go on about their day, Moses himself would go into the camp, but Joshua would stay at the Tent of Meeting in the presence of the LORD. He would not leave it.

When the spies went into the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the first time and 10 out of the 12 bring a negative report, only he and Caleb kept faith in the promise that the LORD had given them that land. Now, here’s what I believe set Joshua apart from the rest.

When they first left the land of Egypt, the LORD told Moses to consecrate the people and then He would meet them after 3 days. When the LORD came down great fear and terror filled the hearts of all the people.

The LORD had just spoken the Ten Commandments to the People of Israel. There was fire, thunder, lightning, a loud trumpet, and the mountain itself was smoking. The people were afraid (Exodus 20:18-21). Now when Moses went up to the mountain, he remained there for 40 days and 40 nights. The people then said to Aaron, Moses’ brother, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him” (Exodus 32:1). And what does he create? A golden calf.

They didn’t want a replacement for God Almighty, but for Moses. They didn’t know what happened to him. They just saw that frightening sight on Mount Sinai and heard the thundering voice of God. So, they needed to replace Moses, the mediator between God and them. They had just spent 430 years in the land of Egypt. And during that time, they had become influenced by the Pagan gods of the Egyptians (Ezekiel 16:26).

So, they created a golden calf in the image of the Egyptian god, Apis. Apis was the mediator between man and the greater gods. Now, out of fear they had just rebelled against the LORD’s commandments that they had just received from His own mouth. The very first two commandments they broke 40 days after receiving it. When the LORD told Moses to go down to correct the people, all the people were there except one person. Joshua. Joshua remained at the foot of the mountain patiently waiting for Moses to come down. In fact, Joshua said to Moses, ‘it sounds like war in the camp,’ but Moses had to correct him, ‘no, it sounds like singing.’ Joshua did not defile himself with pagan worship once removed from Egypt.

Every action we choose causes a physical and spiritual reaction. It either pushes us towards or away from our call. Joshua didn’t realize that each step he made led him to have to fill the shoes of Moses at the time he was making them, but God was watching him. He was preparing him for greatness. The LORD is preparing you for greatness as well, are you walking in steps necessary to see that greatness?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Step To Greatness.

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Look Inwardly At Your Heart

39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.” ~ Luke 11:39-41

The same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead dwells in the Church, and the same spirit that kept the Pharisees from accepting the Messiah is still ravaging the Church as well. Spirits never die. They are immortal. They may interact with the world around them differently than they did in ancient times, but they are still around and very active today.

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day and age were not concerned with the Spirit, but with the physical. They looked at outward appearances, and not the heart. How could they look at the heart? By looking at the actions that people make and the words that they say. Too often in the Church we look the part, but we don’t act or speak the part. Instead, we are callous. We just let any cruelty and insult fly out of our mouths. We’re ready to send people to Hell and even wish it on them. We no longer walk in love.

Our love has grown cold. Why? Because we no longer look inward. When we look at the heart and really analyze our actions, we will be able to see whether or not we are of God and dwelling in His Spirit or not. I saw a video the other day of a young man who had tattoos all over his face and body. His hair was dreaded, and his clothes were a little baggy. He wasn’t what you would picture in your mind as ‘Christian,’ but his actions, his words, his heart was. He was patient, kind, loving, and truly understood grace (because he knew what it meant to receive it). He was speaking with another guy who was clean cut. Someone you would expect to be Christian and a good one at that. But he wasn’t. He instead couldn’t understand love or grace. In fact, it sounded like he wasn’t a believer at all because he didn’t understand grace.

See, it’s not always about our outward appearance. Yes, dressing modestly and honoring God with our bodies is important. But what’s even more important is honoring God with our heart. Whether or not we look the part outwardly isn’t what matters. What matters is, do we live the part?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look Inwardly At Your Heart.

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Desire Righteously

10 And He said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” ~ Revelation 22:10-11

God is NOT about compromising His word for Bubba in the back row, who only wants his ears tickled. God is not about that! He doesn’t have time for that. Either you are for Him, or you are against Him. Either you accept Him, or you refuse Him.

God does not force anyone to be a part of His Kingdom, but He gives all the free opportunity to come to Him and be redeemed. Yes, the will of God is that all should be saved, but He never forces that will on anyone. Why? Because it would remove freewill. The freewill to either choose Him or reject Him. That freewill is a gift from God.

Therefore, He says that as the time gets closer and closer to His return, continue in how you live your life. I will give you over to your desires. If you desire me, you will have me. If you desire to be away from me, then you will no longer feel my pull. God will never force His desires onto us, but will always give us the desires of our hearts.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Desire Righteously.

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Be Sheep-tinct

16 … as God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the LORD, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the LORD Almighty.” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:16b-18

God declares that He will make His dwelling among us… and walk among us… and be our God, but we must go out from their midst. We are to separate ourselves from the world, not link arms with the world and support/push evil. We are to be in the world but not of it. How can we be sure? Because He has called us out of the world. He has made us holy for Him.

There are no shades of gray in Christianity. Either you are for Jesus, or you are against Jesus. No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). And that is why the Church is so weak today. We mix the occult with the things of God. And we try to force Christ into accord with Belial. The Temple of God has no agreement with idols. It has no agreement with darkness of any kind.

Therefore, if you want to dwell with the LORD for all eternity, then we are to separate ourselves from the world in this life. We are to pick up our cross and follow Him. We are to crucify our flesh so that we can inherit His Kingdom forever. See, today the Church looks no different than the world. We embrace sin. We push darkness. And all in the name of love, while throwing out the True love of God as described in the Bible. This is why the Church will be separated into two groups: the goats and the sheep. If we aren’t careful, we’ll be on the wrong side of the separated.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Sheep-tinct.

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