Mood Swings

Predicting the weather seems like a roll of the dice. Weather changes from day to day, season to season, there are cold days in summer, hot days in winter, it’s the weather. Now how about moods. Have you ever noticed that sometimes your mood swings around randomly, some minutes your emotions are rainy, other times you are like a warm sunny day. The thing is, your moods affects others, especially your family. Maybe you can’t control the weather, but you can control your mood. A bad attitude messes up the others around you and has everyone walking on egg shells. People really let their moods fly around at home, and end up hurting those they love most. But God has a different plan. He asks us to be self controlled, and that to truly love is to lay down our lives for others. He says to let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and that every day that God makes, which is every day, we should rejoice and be glad. To rejoice in the Lord always, again I say (in case you missed it) rejoice. Make an effort today to no longer let moods tell you how to feel, let God tell you how to feel, change the atmosphere of your home to one of fun and love.

Wash it Through The Cross

The old testament takes up the majority of the bible, it is so important, and then there is a new testament. Why new? Well, Jesus is born and dies, then is resurrected. This act of coming to earth was prophesied, and when this happened a new testament was created. New indicating that something had changed. What changed? Well, everything. I am explaining this because it is important to realize that as we read the Old Testament, that there is a relationship between man and God that has changed, it is different now than it was then, different because of the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:15 says that “He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Well who is free, yeah, it’s you. The old testament tells a story of man who kept failing, falling, and was punished. The new testament tells a story of man who lived perfectly righteous, was crucified, so that all who believe would be seen as righteous by God. What changed, well Christ brought grace and forgiveness, he brought freedom, healing, and His Spirit. What has changed? Well everything. As we read the old testament, always take it through the story of Christ and think about how our relationship with our creator is different now then it may have been then.

Spend time, or invest time

How do you spend your time? Well that’s a trick question. Anything we spend is gone. Like when we spend money, well, that money is gone. God teaches us to sow, he teaches us by example, as He has sown into our lives. Sowing produces, spending wastes. To gain more we must plant, we must learn to sow, we must learn to invest. So instead of thinking of spending time, think of investing time. Don’t spend time with your family, instead, invest time into your family. It’s a mental switch. If I’m investing time, then I’m not distracted, I’m not texting or surfing the web, playing my favorite phone game, Instead I’m in a position of sowing, of uplifiting, encouraging, of giving. With my family I try and create good memories. And when you’re off to work, don’t spend time at the job, invest time into the job, because now there is a return. Anyone can show up to work and go through the motions, instead, put your heart into it, be excellent, diligent, make an investment out of it. Give more than you are receiving. Work more than you are paid for. Be it relationships your occupation, or whatever, sow every where you go, plant, make life an investment into life, give more than you get. God is your reward.

Knowing Who Wins

My brother TVos sports on Sunday, since we are typically ministering all day, we miss the big games. So he goes back and watches them after the game is over. One particular very important football game he went to go watch, but he knew from seeing the news that his team had won the game. So in the first quarter his team fell behind. Interception, fumble. Even into the fourth quarter his team was losing. Still he was never afraid, or even stressed. Why? Well he already knew the winner, he knew that some how his team was going to win. He didn’t know how, but he did know for a fact that they would win. This is like our Christianity. Sometimes we find ourselves in the pit, in a mess, in a storm, and we sweat and stress, but really, if you read the end of the book, well you win. You may not know how God is going to do it, but put your trust in him, don’t give space for doubt and fear, instead stand firm knowing that God is bigger, he’s on your team, and He is not about the lose the war. Though set backs come, and things look bleak, Have faith, fear not. For God is your shield, your exceedingly great reward.

Qualifying round to run the race

In many races, like the Olympics, there is a qualifying round. The qualifying round determines whether you are qualified to even run at all. This can be like getting a new job, it is tough to be hired at all if they find you to be unqualified. Worse yet, certain things can disqualify you from being able to participate at all. Thus, no prize for you. Did you know though, that in Christ, you have been qualified for the prize. Colossions 1:12 “says we are giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” So there is an inheritance, and you get to share in it. And I’m sure it is good. Are you qualified because you ran a good round, or went to the right school? Are you qualified because you have the skill, or a proven record, or the right friends, or the right car? Or because you have no tattoos? Nope God has qualified you, it’s free. You are qualified because Jesus ran the qualifiying round on your behalf, and when you receive Him, his run became your run. The prize is yours, the inheritance is free. Jesus won it all.

A Praise and Worship sandwich

Okay, every time I go to church there are all these people singing, what is this? Can I wait till the music is over to come in? When is the preacher gonna start, what songs are these? You know I think praise and worship gets missed out on sometimes in our culture. So here’s the shepherd boy David, out with the sheep singing songs to the Lord when Samuel arrives to anoint him to be King. David writes over a hundred songs that are in the bible, and then, it says in II Samuel 23:1 “These are the last words of David.” Okay, so his dying breathe, what does he say? This is going to be profound moment, a man who lived his destiny, became king as God called him to, a man after God’s own heart. And his last words were, well, you can read it, but it was a song. He sang a song as his last words. David started his life with worshipping God, and ended it the same way. His life was like a Praise and Worship sandwich, umm… with cheese. The next time you walk in to the music at church, jump in like David, learn to worship God in song like David. Might as well start now, since it just keeps going when you get to heaven!

You have the decoder ring – The holy spirit, to know the thoughts of God

You have the decoder ring – The holy spirit, to know the thoughts of God

In I Corinthians 2:9 Paul is quoting Isaiah saying “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” Then Paul writes “But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit”. You see, until Christ came, what Isaiah said was true, no one could know this manifold hidden wisdom of God, it was like a secret. But then Paul says, but we know. Why? Because Jesus changed the everything. God has revealed it now, by His spirit. Are there secret things of God. Yes! Okay so how do we find out what these secrets are? Paul goes on to say that only God’s spirit knows God’s thoughts, and now that we have access to that Spirit, we can know His thoughts. This is a great gift. God has given us the decoder ring to the hidden mysteries in His word, and it is the spirit. If you want to know what God thinks about something, you can, just ask, and then listen to the Spirit of God. Go ahead, ask Him if he thinks you should give an offering, or ask him if he thinks you should go to church, ask him what He thinks you should do, then do it. Then you win!

A thorough bred

A thorough bred horse is a horse that has been bred to win. Often referred to as being hot blooded, it is the blood line of these horses that is the primary focus. The right blood means the speed, lightness, and endurance to win. For this reason horse breading has been an art since the 17th century, with emphasis on the using on the strongest and fastest horses to bring about the next generation. Now what does this mean for you today. Well you are created to win, and when you received Christ you received his blood, now a brother of Christ, joint heirs of the Lord’s inheritance, you are a child of God. You are created to win, and you have the blood to win. You see the right blood, Christ’s blood means the mind of Christ, the righteousness of God, the Spirit of God in you, the ability to move mountains, the sword of the spirit, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, eternal life, armed for battle, to Him be all glory and power, to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. You can’t lose! Ready, set, go!

The Dream - Impossible

Joseph had a God given dream that one day he would lead, which might have seem attainable since he was the favorite son. But must have seemed impossible when his brothers sold him into slavery. As a slave he would never see his family again, and would seemingly be a slave forever. Later he is thrown in prison, which was taking him even further from the dream God had given him. For 9 years he was a slave, and another 4 years in prison. I imagine he wondered how this dream would ever come to pass. Have you ever had a dream. God gives us dreams to get us thinking, praying, and trying to head in a direction that he has for us. But not everyone realizes their dreams. The dream in your heart, does it seem impossible now? Well, good, because the dream must become impossible to have life. You see Josephs dream needed to become impossible. If he could have accomplished it on his own, then how would God receive glory. Instead, it is when our dreams seem most impossible that God has the most power. After 13 years of a dream that seemed impossible, Joseph’s dream comes to pass, and he’s placed 2nd in command of all the land. Does your dream seem hopeless? Well, get ready!

It Matters What God Thinks

Joseph had a dream at the age of 17 that he would be a leader. Josephs brothers didn’t like him and it says in Genesis 37:23 that they “stripped him of his robe, they took him and threw him into the cistern.” Later they sell him into slavery. This began Joseph’s journey towards his dream. One day he will be 2nd in command of all the land. But not today. The robe they stripped him of was the robe his dad had made for him. The robe represented that he was his father’s most loved son. But it also was a reason his brothers hated him. The robe was how his brothers felt about him. In order to get going on his destiny, Joseph had to be stripped of what everyone else thought about him, because that just didn’t matter. The robe was then dipped in blood, representing that this outer garment that is trying to define you needs to be crucified with Christ. Joseph had to find out who God created him to be. You see, we often wear around what others have put on us, insecurities and strengths that come from man. But God wishes us to be rid of this garment so we can run our race. It just doesn’t matter what others think about you, it matters what God thinks.

Don't be a French Fry

What’s the difference between a French fry and a diamond? I mean, both are wonderful, both are desirable. People like French fries, and people like diamonds. The difference is the value. A French fry is common, easy to find, and less expensive. It comes in a paper box with other fries. A diamond is held behind a glass case, beautiful and rare. It comes exquisitely wrapped. Okay girls, this is a lesson for you, God created you as a diamond, a rare and unique beautiful creature, a true gift from God. But you can choose to be that diamond, rare and valuable, or you can choose to be, a French fry. Now when it comes to the boys, French fries may get a lot of attention, but in the end there isn’t as much value to the boys. Boys like French fries, but a French fry is not something to be saved, and the right kind of boys aren’t into French fries, they aren’t interested in common, mediocre, just average. The right man is looking for the diamond, rare, still in the glass case. A diamond doesn’t just wear anything, and doesn’t just act the way other girls do. Don’t be a French fry, be a diamond. In the end, diamonds win.

I Like Toast

I am a big fan of toast. I don’t mean clinking glasses together, I’m talking about dropping a piece of bread in the toaster, buttering it, even jelly or honey. I mix it up. Toast is great for what time of day? Well, breakfast. But there is a better and even more important kind of toast to eat for breakfast. While Jesus was fasting Satan tried to get Jesus to turn some stones into toast, well, bread, they didn’t have toasters yet. So Jesus said “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Now we have access to something so valuable and important, the bible, the word of God, the true Wisdom of God, the ability to read and fathom mysteries and to hear God speak, and we can do it every morning by reading it. This is the best toast of all, never burnt, never soggy or dry, and always exactly what I needed. So get up tomorrow a bit earlier, and get out a loaf of the bread, have some Word of God toast with your toast, it’s like a cinnamon pop tart of love for your soul, manna for the man of God, 7 grain wholesome heart healthy food to keep you going all day.

Your Answer Is On The Way

Have you ever been praying for something and felt like you were on hold, listenting to that on hold music “you’re call will be answered in the order it was received.” And we wonder, God, where are you? In Exodus 3:7 God says to Moses “I have heard my people crying out because of their slave drivers.” When you pray, God hears you. But in this story we get a behind the scenes look at how God answers us. I wonder how long they were crying out? They could’ve been thinking, “Is God hearing my prayer?” But the answer was already coming! God’s plan took a bit of time, He had to get Moses on board, then get him in front of Pharoah, then there were a bunch of plagues, it took a while, but the answer was coming. The deliverance was already on it’s way. God may be working on your answer right now. When God sends Moses many of those who were praying were like “well this guy can’t possibly be the answer?” Remember that God’s answer may not always follow your plan. But God has a better plan, He has heard you, and he never ever in His word asked you to quit praying. Jesus said ask and you shall receive! Keep Praying and enjoy your onhold music!