"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you
will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh
are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the
flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the
things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not
under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual
immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife,
jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,
drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you
before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of
God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such
things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the
Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited,
provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:16-26
When I first committed my life to Christ, one of the first passages of scripture I highlighted was this list: "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
God is warning you and I against these things because He knows we can choose differently (with His help)! He knows the family problems, He knows the mental anguish it will cause, He know the divorce that might happen, He knows the disease these items listed may bring; He knows ALL and this warning is an encouragement to you and I to know that God cares so much about you and I, He says, "Hey, these things will hurt YOU!" He says, "Hey, these things will hurt your FAMILY!" He says, "Hey, these things cause you DEATH!"
God's word make it known to me what the works of the flesh looked like. If I am a Christian, than this list is a litmus test. Do my flesh bad fruits out weigh my Spirit given good fruits?
Most of us know what our own sin looks like, but reading them in black and white just helps bring you and I to a state of awareness. As believers, we are no longer ignorant to these things. If I am now aware of these things, I can now start putting them to death in Christ. The process starts with identifying these and following God's instructions, "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh." Put them to death! Only through Him, can I overcome these things.
After 14 years, I can say several of these listed have put to death. Not to say, I have attained some type of perfection, by no means, but I can see how God has changed me in many ways in the last 14 years. Do some of these items still rise up, yes, from time to time, but that just means I am not living in the Spirit. If I am living in the Spirit, than they are put to death.
When we use these passage as a litmus test, God continues and tells us what it begins to look like to live in the Spirit. As we ask Him to help us "crucify" our flesh, He says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..." We will begin to see these good fruits in our lives.
"...let us walk by the Spirit..." for when we are in Him, we are giving Him all glory, because its Him, not me!
What are you representing today; the Bad Fruit or the Good Fruit? Ask God to help you identify these things and show you the Bad vs. Good. Then submit yourself to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to being to change you.
God Bless.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Who's in control?
“It’s
obvious when someone is not walking in the Spirit (at least not
consistently). What you see and experience from such a person is usually
along the lines of rage, selfishness, dissension, bitterness, and envy.
However, when a person is habitually and actively submitting to the
Spirit, what comes out of his or her life is the fruit of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will not - cannot - lead you into sin. If the Holy
Spirit is in you, as a believer, then when you sin you are not listening
to the Spirit’s leading.” Francis Chan Forgotten God
There is a laundry list above that probably plagues most of us; although if taken captive by Christ and put to death in Him, we being to live in the Spirit. Colossians 3:3-5, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you..."
Are you waking up every morning and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you? "Put to death," this laundry list of things and live in Him. As you begin to live in the Spirit people begin to see Christ in you. That's what I want! May it be so.
Blessings to each of you.
There is a laundry list above that probably plagues most of us; although if taken captive by Christ and put to death in Him, we being to live in the Spirit. Colossians 3:3-5, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you..."
Are you waking up every morning and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you? "Put to death," this laundry list of things and live in Him. As you begin to live in the Spirit people begin to see Christ in you. That's what I want! May it be so.
Blessings to each of you.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Change in Peter
Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away! ” “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times! ” “Even if I have to die with You,” Peter told Him, “I will never deny You! ” And all the disciples said the same thing. Matthew 26:33-35
We know what happens, Peter denies knowledge of knowing Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75). Peter was willing to follow Jesus, but when confronted with the possibility of death, he had not decided to surrender his life yet. Matthew 26:75 says, "and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly."
Approximately three years Peter lived life, learned, broke bread, and witnessed many miracles while with Jesus. When things got hard or scary, Peter was crushed by the fear of the possibility of receiving the same punishment Christ was facing.
What is Peter's response? Peter "wept." It is possible he replayed the three encounters in his head many times. Peter acknowledged his sin.
Peter understood the grace which was imparted by Jesus' blood, therefore Peter did not dwell too long on the sin he committed by denying Christ. He overcame this and began to live in Christ.
I believe this is pivotal in the faith of Peter. Peter left his job and family and followed Jesus. He lived three years with the Savior of the world, learning and witnessing straight from the founder of our faith. Witnessed Jesus' arrest, denied Him publicly and watched him die on the cross. In Acts 1, Peter encounters the resurrected Christ and receives the Holy Spirit.
About 40-43 days after the death and resurrection of Christ, Peter changed dramatically from the undecided and fearful to the sold out and willing to die for his faith in the Son of God.
The change is real. This change we see in Peter is both in action and word. We see an amazing passion that overflows from Peter, which is Christ in Him and lives are changed! Peter stands before many and preaches the gospel in Acts 2 with no fear of the outcome. In this chapter it notes 3,000 surrendered their lives to Christ. Peter's life was completely changed and so were 3,000 others!
Sometimes I wonder if more people had the same passion for Christ as Peter did, if revival would go out from our houses of worship and spill over into our communities. I think the only way for this passion to arise is for you and I to really surrender our lives to Him.
In God's word, we are encouraged by Peter and he says, "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,"1 Peter 3:15. This word tell us Peter was now encouraging others to rise to the occasion when questioned about our faith, instead of retracting and denying Him. Another example of how Peter's life was completely changed!
The change is Jesus Christ. Only Christ brings the peace Peter received after denying Him. Acknowledgement of sin and turning his life completely over to Christ, no matter the outcome -- including death.
Are you passionately living for Christ and telling others about how He changed your life?
I am reminded of the old song,
"...I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back, no turning back..."
Have you allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ to completely change your life? Have you not only followed Christ, but realized you must surrender your life even if it means death?
Blessings.
We know what happens, Peter denies knowledge of knowing Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75). Peter was willing to follow Jesus, but when confronted with the possibility of death, he had not decided to surrender his life yet. Matthew 26:75 says, "and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly."
Approximately three years Peter lived life, learned, broke bread, and witnessed many miracles while with Jesus. When things got hard or scary, Peter was crushed by the fear of the possibility of receiving the same punishment Christ was facing.
What is Peter's response? Peter "wept." It is possible he replayed the three encounters in his head many times. Peter acknowledged his sin.
Peter understood the grace which was imparted by Jesus' blood, therefore Peter did not dwell too long on the sin he committed by denying Christ. He overcame this and began to live in Christ.
I believe this is pivotal in the faith of Peter. Peter left his job and family and followed Jesus. He lived three years with the Savior of the world, learning and witnessing straight from the founder of our faith. Witnessed Jesus' arrest, denied Him publicly and watched him die on the cross. In Acts 1, Peter encounters the resurrected Christ and receives the Holy Spirit.
About 40-43 days after the death and resurrection of Christ, Peter changed dramatically from the undecided and fearful to the sold out and willing to die for his faith in the Son of God.
The change is real. This change we see in Peter is both in action and word. We see an amazing passion that overflows from Peter, which is Christ in Him and lives are changed! Peter stands before many and preaches the gospel in Acts 2 with no fear of the outcome. In this chapter it notes 3,000 surrendered their lives to Christ. Peter's life was completely changed and so were 3,000 others!
Sometimes I wonder if more people had the same passion for Christ as Peter did, if revival would go out from our houses of worship and spill over into our communities. I think the only way for this passion to arise is for you and I to really surrender our lives to Him.
In God's word, we are encouraged by Peter and he says, "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,"1 Peter 3:15. This word tell us Peter was now encouraging others to rise to the occasion when questioned about our faith, instead of retracting and denying Him. Another example of how Peter's life was completely changed!
The change is Jesus Christ. Only Christ brings the peace Peter received after denying Him. Acknowledgement of sin and turning his life completely over to Christ, no matter the outcome -- including death.
Are you passionately living for Christ and telling others about how He changed your life?
I am reminded of the old song,
"...I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back, no turning back..."
Have you allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ to completely change your life? Have you not only followed Christ, but realized you must surrender your life even if it means death?
Blessings.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Follow Up to Put On Christ
I had to share the December 14th entry in Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest The Great Life as a follow up to my most recent post Put On Christ. Not that my post is anywhere near Chambers, I just read it and thought it was an amazing description of the peace Christ gives (referenced in Colossians 3:14-16).
The rest of my post is Oswald Chambers:
"Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we
are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God.
Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some
disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go,
everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to
serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties
combined with doubt and confusion. Our attitude must be one of complete
reliance on God. Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than
living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to
usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes.
God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.
My questions arise whenever I cease to obey. When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how He will unravel my problems."
Blessings.
The rest of my post is Oswald Chambers:
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled . . . —John 14:27
God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.
My questions arise whenever I cease to obey. When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how He will unravel my problems."
Blessings.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Put On Christ
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:14-16
The Greek is very specific that peace only comes with Christ ruling our hearts. We can look at scripture and trace the origin of love to God. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8
Love comes directly from God, without God, we do not know it! The passage says "put on love," the prerequisite is surrendering your life to Christ.
At this point, than we allow Christ to rule our hearts and in addition Christ words must be on our mind and hearts!
Emanuel, God with us. If you are putting on love or Christ, than you represent Him and His love each time to relinquish your life for Him. In other words, Christ overtakes you and I and we begin to put on love; love others in ways we have not know before. People who may have annoyed you or whom you might have considered unlovable, you begin to love.
Jeremy cannot agape love everyone, but Christ can. He does the loving, we choose to put Him or ourself on! Without Christ, we cannot put on love. We could attempt, but the end result is separation from God.
With Christ love put on we begin to look like Christ who in John 4 & 5:1-17 loves people of different race, country, sex, illness, lowly and downcast. Wow, the world needs Jesus! His love changes people and we get an opportunity to put it on, but are we?
Blessings.
The Greek is very specific that peace only comes with Christ ruling our hearts. We can look at scripture and trace the origin of love to God. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8
Love comes directly from God, without God, we do not know it! The passage says "put on love," the prerequisite is surrendering your life to Christ.
At this point, than we allow Christ to rule our hearts and in addition Christ words must be on our mind and hearts!
Emanuel, God with us. If you are putting on love or Christ, than you represent Him and His love each time to relinquish your life for Him. In other words, Christ overtakes you and I and we begin to put on love; love others in ways we have not know before. People who may have annoyed you or whom you might have considered unlovable, you begin to love.
Jeremy cannot agape love everyone, but Christ can. He does the loving, we choose to put Him or ourself on! Without Christ, we cannot put on love. We could attempt, but the end result is separation from God.
With Christ love put on we begin to look like Christ who in John 4 & 5:1-17 loves people of different race, country, sex, illness, lowly and downcast. Wow, the world needs Jesus! His love changes people and we get an opportunity to put it on, but are we?
Blessings.
A Glimpse of Student Worship
At FBC Bremond we gather every Wednesday night and typically have 20-25 students ages 7-12th grades. God has allowed us to add a worship set at the beginning of our meetings, which includes about 4 songs, praises to the Lord. Gabe S. our worship leader is currently a student at Texas A&M and he commutes in weekly to take an opportunity to serve these students and the Lord. What a powerful testimony in his dedication and commitment alone. God has allowed us to present the gospel almost weekly through teaching, the Spirit is working on hearts.
Please be praying for these students. Several young believers and many who do not know Jesus. Pray that students would fall deeply in love with Jesus. Pray that there would be no more excuses, but lives surrendered to Him. Pray God would change lives in Bremond. Pray these students would serve Jesus wherever they go and proclaim Jesus as Lord of all.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Blessings.
Please be praying for these students. Several young believers and many who do not know Jesus. Pray that students would fall deeply in love with Jesus. Pray that there would be no more excuses, but lives surrendered to Him. Pray God would change lives in Bremond. Pray these students would serve Jesus wherever they go and proclaim Jesus as Lord of all.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Blessings.
Monday, December 03, 2012
My Current Photography Project
This little photo shoot has got me itching to buy a camera. Congrats to Jacob and Christy. Here is an unfinished picture from yesterdays's shoot. What an awesome time!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Overcoming Anger One Year Ago
"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
It was about this time a year ago that I got mad at God. Most you didn't know it, its not my style to publicize such a personal matter, but God and I were not on good terms. I think it's more accurate to say that I was in the wrong place, but not God.
I was at a point where I felt like I needed to be in different place and doing something different. I became angry, frustrated and and maybe a little bit confused. At times my anger may have seemed rooted in the place, but it was not, it was at God. Selfishly, I believed I needed to be somewhere else, hence God was "wrong," which mad me mad.
This season of anger lasted about the entire month of December. As the new year approached I sought counsel from other friends who had be in the ministry longer. The counsel was pretty simple: are you asking God, "How do I need to be serving God and not Jeremy?" Are you asking "do I need to learn something new, if so, let me be receptive?" and "is there something else You need to show me through someone here?"
God had more in store for me at the camp; I just needed to get over myself.
Jesus says, "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" John 16:24. I may have been praying, but I was not praying correctly, it was out of anger and my will, not His. God wanted me to surrender my anger and surrender my will to Him.
At the end of the month I decided to "let God." I was ready and willing to do whatever He asked me to do, whatever I needed to learn and seek out whoever I needed to seek out.
I was refreshed and renewed at a place I didn't think I needed to be, but really it was right where God wanted me to be.
During the next four and a half months at the camp I learned so much about God: His purposes in my life, how to serve Him better and also to serve those around me; all for His glory. I came to a better understanding that speaking His words into people's lives was part of His plan. To help equip others, encourage, and do life together. I learned to listen to the Holy Spirit, speak when prompted by God, not me.
God's plans and purposes are way beyond my feeble plans! God wants us to have a deep and rich relationship with Him. He is constantly communicating with you and I, and it's our job and responsibility to be attentive to His leading and follow.
I am thankful for my "time of anger," but more thankful I decided to surrender and allow Him to grow me!
If you're in a position where you're angry or upset with your job, yourself or maybe your family, it is time to allow God to teach you something!
Rick Warren says, "It's not about you."
Surrender your life, surrender your will and ask Him what you need to be doing. Allow Christ to rule, not YOU.
It took me almost a month to realize that I was more worried about me than I was about God. That may be where you are today.
Ask God, what do you need to be learning, how could you be serving Him and if there's someone who can help you. Begin to earnestly pray, seek Him and His will. He will lead you.
Blessings.
It was about this time a year ago that I got mad at God. Most you didn't know it, its not my style to publicize such a personal matter, but God and I were not on good terms. I think it's more accurate to say that I was in the wrong place, but not God.
I was at a point where I felt like I needed to be in different place and doing something different. I became angry, frustrated and and maybe a little bit confused. At times my anger may have seemed rooted in the place, but it was not, it was at God. Selfishly, I believed I needed to be somewhere else, hence God was "wrong," which mad me mad.
This season of anger lasted about the entire month of December. As the new year approached I sought counsel from other friends who had be in the ministry longer. The counsel was pretty simple: are you asking God, "How do I need to be serving God and not Jeremy?" Are you asking "do I need to learn something new, if so, let me be receptive?" and "is there something else You need to show me through someone here?"
God had more in store for me at the camp; I just needed to get over myself.
Jesus says, "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" John 16:24. I may have been praying, but I was not praying correctly, it was out of anger and my will, not His. God wanted me to surrender my anger and surrender my will to Him.
At the end of the month I decided to "let God." I was ready and willing to do whatever He asked me to do, whatever I needed to learn and seek out whoever I needed to seek out.
I was refreshed and renewed at a place I didn't think I needed to be, but really it was right where God wanted me to be.
During the next four and a half months at the camp I learned so much about God: His purposes in my life, how to serve Him better and also to serve those around me; all for His glory. I came to a better understanding that speaking His words into people's lives was part of His plan. To help equip others, encourage, and do life together. I learned to listen to the Holy Spirit, speak when prompted by God, not me.
God's plans and purposes are way beyond my feeble plans! God wants us to have a deep and rich relationship with Him. He is constantly communicating with you and I, and it's our job and responsibility to be attentive to His leading and follow.
I am thankful for my "time of anger," but more thankful I decided to surrender and allow Him to grow me!
If you're in a position where you're angry or upset with your job, yourself or maybe your family, it is time to allow God to teach you something!
Rick Warren says, "It's not about you."
Surrender your life, surrender your will and ask Him what you need to be doing. Allow Christ to rule, not YOU.
It took me almost a month to realize that I was more worried about me than I was about God. That may be where you are today.
Ask God, what do you need to be learning, how could you be serving Him and if there's someone who can help you. Begin to earnestly pray, seek Him and His will. He will lead you.
Blessings.
Monday, November 26, 2012
The Church According to Acts 2:42-47 - Part 1
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..." Acts 2:42
In Acts 2:42-47 we catch a glimpse of what the early church looked like. The word church or ekklēsia, commonly confused with a structure, is a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly (this assembly might be in a home). This group of people, know as the ekklēsia have a common denominator, their faith is in Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, "...I will build my church..." Before the word ekklēsia or church is egō. This is used as a primary pronoun of the first person; Jesus identifies the church as His (my, me, I). Our church must be founded in Him.
The example set in Acts 2:42 says they "devoted themselves". Devotion means to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing. What were they devoted to? God's word. The apostles' teaching is God's word. Most of the eyewitness heard Jesus teach and several complied His words in what we know as the Holy Bible.
Devoted to God's word. I can just imagine what this group of people did: reading and meditating on God's word morning, lunch, afternoon, evening, nightly and early hours of the morning. They had devotion to His word.
I consider some of my own devotions and confess, I am not near this devoted to God's word. I think think of a few things that get my time: Facebook, Twitter, Texting, Instagram. You may have a similar list. Consider the hours your might spend on these applications. I make attempts to reminder myself to fire my YouVerion bible app, but more often than not I slip back onto another application.
God wants you and I to rearrange our priorities as the early church in Acts 2:42 showed us. We need to devote ourselves to God's word. I heard someone say, we might be considered the generation who wasted the most time. Wow, what an indictment. Are you ready to be considered that generation? God created us for much more than mismanagement of time.
He wants you and I to have a relationship with Him. The only way we can have that is by spending time is His word. With Jesus as our foundation, we must begin to learn about Him through the word and Spirit. That's how we get to know one another, we spend time talking to one another. Devoting ourselves to God word stretches our faith, builds it up and deepens our relationship with Christ.
Ekklēsia, are you ready to devote more time to God's word?
Check back to see what else the early church did and please feel free to drop a comment with some additional insight.
Blessings.
In Acts 2:42-47 we catch a glimpse of what the early church looked like. The word church or ekklēsia, commonly confused with a structure, is a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly (this assembly might be in a home). This group of people, know as the ekklēsia have a common denominator, their faith is in Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, "...I will build my church..." Before the word ekklēsia or church is egō. This is used as a primary pronoun of the first person; Jesus identifies the church as His (my, me, I). Our church must be founded in Him.
The example set in Acts 2:42 says they "devoted themselves". Devotion means to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing. What were they devoted to? God's word. The apostles' teaching is God's word. Most of the eyewitness heard Jesus teach and several complied His words in what we know as the Holy Bible.
Devoted to God's word. I can just imagine what this group of people did: reading and meditating on God's word morning, lunch, afternoon, evening, nightly and early hours of the morning. They had devotion to His word.
I consider some of my own devotions and confess, I am not near this devoted to God's word. I think think of a few things that get my time: Facebook, Twitter, Texting, Instagram. You may have a similar list. Consider the hours your might spend on these applications. I make attempts to reminder myself to fire my YouVerion bible app, but more often than not I slip back onto another application.
God wants you and I to rearrange our priorities as the early church in Acts 2:42 showed us. We need to devote ourselves to God's word. I heard someone say, we might be considered the generation who wasted the most time. Wow, what an indictment. Are you ready to be considered that generation? God created us for much more than mismanagement of time.
He wants you and I to have a relationship with Him. The only way we can have that is by spending time is His word. With Jesus as our foundation, we must begin to learn about Him through the word and Spirit. That's how we get to know one another, we spend time talking to one another. Devoting ourselves to God word stretches our faith, builds it up and deepens our relationship with Christ.
Ekklēsia, are you ready to devote more time to God's word?
Check back to see what else the early church did and please feel free to drop a comment with some additional insight.
Blessings.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
A Man and a Baseball
Last Saturday, Landon found one of my collectible baseballs still in the plastic. This Houston Astros baseball was white with the old logo, but no signature. I thought I might put it on the shelf one day, you know, to look at. Landon said, "Dad, I want to play with this white baseball." I sternly replied, "No!"
Kari sometimes reminds me that the Holy Spirit can speak through her to me. Well on that day she said, "Jeremy, what are you going to do, put it on a shelf to let it collect dust. Go outside and play."
Considering Deuteronomy 28:1, I thought to myself, this is an opportunity to obey. I know it might seem simple or petty to some, but this baseball held me captive to a thought: maybe, just maybe I was going to do something with this baseball and it was more important than enjoying life. What might happen: I break my son's heart and take away an opportunity to play in the backyard and introduce him to a game I enjoy.
I quote I Corinthians 10:31 because I believe that this was a moment to give God the glory. Instead of putting that baseball on the shelf I got to spend time in the backyard with my son throwing, catching, laughing, and enjoying life. Thanks to Him, the giver of life!
It quickly could've turned into a missed opportunity to play baseball with my son. If I would've stuck to my guns and been bullheaded about putting the ball on the shelf, I believe I might have denied God the glory.
The Scripture says, "in whatever you do..." My initial thoughts in response to Landon we're not glorifying to God. I will not be taking that baseball to heaven with me or any other item that I might put on my shelf. I realized that I need to go outside and play baseball with this ball and treasure the moment God has given!
Are you holding onto something and not living life, denying God the glory? Take it off the shelf, dust it off, toss it around some and put some dirt on it.
Life is meant to be lived; in that recognize where it derives from and give Him all the glory...even if its just a baseball!
God bless.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Jesus Rocked the Boat!
"And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him." Luke 5:11
Jesus is in the business of rocking our boats.
Simon Peter, James and John, three of the twelve disciples, referred to in this passage "left everything" to follow Jesus (job and family). I think it is a similar call He asks you and I to follow Him; we must leave everything behind.
I can think of several things to leave behind, here are a few thoughts:
Money or Job. God wants us to rely on Him so much we must be willing to leave behind money or an amazing job.
While serving at the camp I learned it was pretty comfortable serving there: no rent, no water bill, no electricity bill. Don't get me wrong, it was hard work, but a pretty amazing job when you looked at the many ways the camp takes care of those who serve there.
We came to a place where if we wanted to followed God, obey (Deut. 28:1), we had to leave somewhere we were comfortable to serve Him right where He wanted us.
Guilt and shame. Not only does Jesus' blood cover up our iniquities, He asks us to leave it behind. Our past is taken care of by His blood, there is no reason you and I should allow Satan to use it against us. Cast out these thoughts and leave them behind, if we don't than we are disobeying His command.
Our selfish earthly selves. God wants us to be transformed! The desires of our heart must begin to change; for in His service our sensitivity to the spiritual realm must increase.
"as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
What we leave behind is the things we see and we need to begin to focus on the spiritual realm. Living for ourselves, focusing on flesh things, hinders us from following Him.
Leave it behind. Follow Him.
Our you ready to let Him rock your boat today? The call is there, "...[leave] everything and [follow] Him." How will you let go of what's holding you from surrendering all today?
My prayer is we allow ourselves to leave it and follow Jesus more today than yesterday.
Blessings.
Jesus is in the business of rocking our boats.
Simon Peter, James and John, three of the twelve disciples, referred to in this passage "left everything" to follow Jesus (job and family). I think it is a similar call He asks you and I to follow Him; we must leave everything behind.
I can think of several things to leave behind, here are a few thoughts:
Money or Job. God wants us to rely on Him so much we must be willing to leave behind money or an amazing job.
While serving at the camp I learned it was pretty comfortable serving there: no rent, no water bill, no electricity bill. Don't get me wrong, it was hard work, but a pretty amazing job when you looked at the many ways the camp takes care of those who serve there.
We came to a place where if we wanted to followed God, obey (Deut. 28:1), we had to leave somewhere we were comfortable to serve Him right where He wanted us.
Guilt and shame. Not only does Jesus' blood cover up our iniquities, He asks us to leave it behind. Our past is taken care of by His blood, there is no reason you and I should allow Satan to use it against us. Cast out these thoughts and leave them behind, if we don't than we are disobeying His command.
Our selfish earthly selves. God wants us to be transformed! The desires of our heart must begin to change; for in His service our sensitivity to the spiritual realm must increase.
"as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
What we leave behind is the things we see and we need to begin to focus on the spiritual realm. Living for ourselves, focusing on flesh things, hinders us from following Him.
Leave it behind. Follow Him.
Our you ready to let Him rock your boat today? The call is there, "...[leave] everything and [follow] Him." How will you let go of what's holding you from surrendering all today?
My prayer is we allow ourselves to leave it and follow Jesus more today than yesterday.
Blessings.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Say you have Christ, so what?
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
"So what?"
This life is meaningless without Christ and yet many parade their "faith" or attend every service, but never figure out its all about Him and not us.
If you aren't dead, I think these three phrases are accurate descriptions of loud, worthless and useless counterfeits. Not saying God cannot change them, but love comes from Him, therefore they are missing something!
What's missing?
"I have been crucified with Christ..." Galatians 2:20
The concept of death with Christ is sometimes over looked. Eternity in heaven and deliverance from hell seems to be bonus features of our faith (obviously great things), but God wants you and I to live a certain way now. He wants us to obey is words and commands.
"...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me..." Galatians 2:20
So what? If our death is so important, how does it look daily?
Daily we submit our countenance, attitude, mood, reactions, thoughts, self indulgences and allow Christ to rule these area of our lives. When He is doing the living, it is He who shines and receives the glory.
If others don't see Christ, than it begs the question, so what? Are you a loud, worthless and useless Christian counterfeit?
If you don't see a difference, than we need to ask the Spirit to reveal imperfections; areas of our life we have not surrendered to Him. A friend of mine calls this process identifying red flags and another calls it identifying bad seeds.
Surrender these things to Christ and begin to live in the grace and freedom that come through dying to self.
So what?
"So what?"
This life is meaningless without Christ and yet many parade their "faith" or attend every service, but never figure out its all about Him and not us.
If you aren't dead, I think these three phrases are accurate descriptions of loud, worthless and useless counterfeits. Not saying God cannot change them, but love comes from Him, therefore they are missing something!
What's missing?
"I have been crucified with Christ..." Galatians 2:20
The concept of death with Christ is sometimes over looked. Eternity in heaven and deliverance from hell seems to be bonus features of our faith (obviously great things), but God wants you and I to live a certain way now. He wants us to obey is words and commands.
"...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me..." Galatians 2:20
So what? If our death is so important, how does it look daily?
Daily we submit our countenance, attitude, mood, reactions, thoughts, self indulgences and allow Christ to rule these area of our lives. When He is doing the living, it is He who shines and receives the glory.
If others don't see Christ, than it begs the question, so what? Are you a loud, worthless and useless Christian counterfeit?
If you don't see a difference, than we need to ask the Spirit to reveal imperfections; areas of our life we have not surrendered to Him. A friend of mine calls this process identifying red flags and another calls it identifying bad seeds.
Surrender these things to Christ and begin to live in the grace and freedom that come through dying to self.
So what?
Are YOU dead?
"...It is no longer I who live, but Christ..." Galatians 2:20
No longer. Pretty simple, the Greek says, no longer, no more, no further. When we put in Christ, we, I, is no more.
According to the Greek, "I" is very specific (I, me, my), it does not mean anything else, no other pronoun, beside I. That is our sole responsibility to understand that it is not me doing the living, but Christ.
The word for "who live" is zaō.
To live (in Christ) means the following:
1) to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
2) to enjoy real life
a) to have true life and worthy of the name
Real life only comes through the death of ourselves. Christ must be doing the living for us, because if we our left at the helm, that means we are in control...and you don't want me (my flesh) in charge!
To begin the day, the question is, are YOU dead?
No longer. Pretty simple, the Greek says, no longer, no more, no further. When we put in Christ, we, I, is no more.
According to the Greek, "I" is very specific (I, me, my), it does not mean anything else, no other pronoun, beside I. That is our sole responsibility to understand that it is not me doing the living, but Christ.
The word for "who live" is zaō.
To live (in Christ) means the following:
1) to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
2) to enjoy real life
a) to have true life and worthy of the name
Real life only comes through the death of ourselves. Christ must be doing the living for us, because if we our left at the helm, that means we are in control...and you don't want me (my flesh) in charge!
To begin the day, the question is, are YOU dead?
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Concerning the Election
Jesus is Lord; no man will separate you and I from Christ.
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Watch what you say, represent Christ. May Christ in you draw people near, not push away.
"Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene..." 2 Timothy 2:14-17a
Pray. Pray. Pray. Pray for our leaders, friends, and family. God knows what He is doing, even when we think we know better.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." 1 Timothy 2:1-2
No need to worry; take your requests before God and let Him rule, not us.
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6
Blessings.
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Watch what you say, represent Christ. May Christ in you draw people near, not push away.
"Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene..." 2 Timothy 2:14-17a
Pray. Pray. Pray. Pray for our leaders, friends, and family. God knows what He is doing, even when we think we know better.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." 1 Timothy 2:1-2
No need to worry; take your requests before God and let Him rule, not us.
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6
Blessings.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
You, Me, Jesus and Zacchaeus: Part One
"He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:1-10
I found it interesting that Jericho is one of oldest continuously occupied locations on the planet. It has been dated back to between 8000-7000 BC.
In Joshua 6:20 it says, "So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city."
Most all archaeologists agree that the wall fell down and they date the destruction of the wall to the time of Joshua (1400 BC).
Jesus enters this old historic city and begins to tear down walls!
Jesus continues to spread his message in order to seek and save the lost. Verse one says he was just passing through, but Jesus is always concerned about redeeming men and women.
When I think about just passing through, I blow through a blinking light small town and get where I am going without hesitating. If I stop to get gas, that is as long as I am in town; I am just passing through. Jesus might just be passing through Jericho, but he sees it as an opportunity to minister to someone.
Do we take the time to minister to others? Our friends, our family, our brothers and sisters. Are you and I in the business of tearing down walls and living like Christ?
We can sit back and just allow our life to just pass by or we can begin to live for something more. Jesus calls Zacchaeus, you and I. He seeks to save the lost. Are you ready to come down from the tree and begin to live in Jesus?
If you already know Him, than are you waking up daily and living for Him? Lets begin to take Jesus' example and stop passing through, but tear down walls by spreading His love, His forgiveness and His grace to those we know. There is power in His name, we just need to begin to live it.
God bless.
I found it interesting that Jericho is one of oldest continuously occupied locations on the planet. It has been dated back to between 8000-7000 BC.
In Joshua 6:20 it says, "So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city."
Most all archaeologists agree that the wall fell down and they date the destruction of the wall to the time of Joshua (1400 BC).
Jesus enters this old historic city and begins to tear down walls!
Jesus continues to spread his message in order to seek and save the lost. Verse one says he was just passing through, but Jesus is always concerned about redeeming men and women.
When I think about just passing through, I blow through a blinking light small town and get where I am going without hesitating. If I stop to get gas, that is as long as I am in town; I am just passing through. Jesus might just be passing through Jericho, but he sees it as an opportunity to minister to someone.
Do we take the time to minister to others? Our friends, our family, our brothers and sisters. Are you and I in the business of tearing down walls and living like Christ?
We can sit back and just allow our life to just pass by or we can begin to live for something more. Jesus calls Zacchaeus, you and I. He seeks to save the lost. Are you ready to come down from the tree and begin to live in Jesus?
If you already know Him, than are you waking up daily and living for Him? Lets begin to take Jesus' example and stop passing through, but tear down walls by spreading His love, His forgiveness and His grace to those we know. There is power in His name, we just need to begin to live it.
God bless.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Encouraged to Mature in Christ
"Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:1, 9-12God wants us to be spiritually mature in Him. It is simple to accept His gift of salvation, but to hone the fruits of the spirits, bearing fruit, is maturity in Christ. Easier said, allowing Him to rule and you and I dying to our flesh. The definition of maturity is:
- the state of being mature; ripeness.
- full development; perfected condition.
This passage compliments Galatians 5:14-17 because when asked, Christ told us in Luke 10:27 "And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
To make Hebrew 6-11-12 happen we must understand the foundation of this maturity. Galatians encourages you and I to love one another with a love the come from Christ, not man. It's love that loves in all circumstances. Offense or no offense, the love carries on.
15 warns us if we don't get this we will harm each other instead of love. Referring to community, biting hurts. We bite people sometime on purpose or not on purpose and we can respond a few ways to the bite: bite back, ignore it or forgive it. The passages communicates to not bite, but if there is a bite how do you and I respond?
I cannot love everyone, but He can. Verse 17 tells us how to love in such a way by walking in the Spirit.
"And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
God desires the we become serious about our faith in Him. Through faith and patience, we cannot do that if we do not live in the Spirit and love like Christ, not Jeremy. I don't love everyone, but He does!
God wants you and I to take serious is loving unconditionally, everyone, not biting one another and living in the Spirit. These are the ways to spiritual maturity.
Learning these things from Jesus' words, Galatians 5:14-17 draws us to Hebrew 6:11, where we are encouraged to carry on, inherit His promises through maturity in Christ.
God bless.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Graduation 2012: Texas State University
I am excited to be graduating from Texas State University. My mother, my wife, my sister in law, my little brother, two 1st cousins and many friends have all gone before me, but tomorrow is my day.
In 2006, Kari and I were dating, she looked my transcript over and said you lack 18 hours until you're done, but 10 of it is Spanish! In the fall of 2011, with a renewed excitement, I decided to delay no more; graduation was my aim.
Here we go! After all the paperwork goes through, I should have my
diploma in September (I think they mail all of them). I am ready to hang one in my office and Kari mentioned putting ours side by side at home.
I am very excited to close this chapter and proud to be a Bobcat from Texas State University - San Marcos.
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged, pushed, pulled, prayed...thank you to everyone! Thank you all and all praise to the Lord.
God bless.
In 2006, Kari and I were dating, she looked my transcript over and said you lack 18 hours until you're done, but 10 of it is Spanish! In the fall of 2011, with a renewed excitement, I decided to delay no more; graduation was my aim.
Here we go! After all the paperwork goes through, I should have my
diploma in September (I think they mail all of them). I am ready to hang one in my office and Kari mentioned putting ours side by side at home.
I am very excited to close this chapter and proud to be a Bobcat from Texas State University - San Marcos.
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged, pushed, pulled, prayed...thank you to everyone! Thank you all and all praise to the Lord.
God bless.
Monday, August 06, 2012
Where's Your Mind?
the mind: 1) the mind as a faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring 2) understanding 3) mind, i.e. spirit, way of thinking and feeling 4) thoughts, either good or bad
"And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God...with all your mind..." Luke 10:27 (edited for focus)
God has been teaching me about the importance of "getting your mind right!" Jesus is quoted above, concerning the greatest command, which also includes four other parts. What if we loved the Lord our God with all our minds?
We allow so much garbage into our minds; a comprehensive list might take days. I thought of a few things that may consume our minds: what I think about myself, what I think about others, what I think others are thinking about me, deciding to cave under peer pressure, music tunes and lyrics, images from print to web, the latest movie star, boy band, TV show, Justin Bieber, magazine advertisements, philosophies, politics, sports, facebook, twitter and more and more clutter.
And this is only a small list. Consider all the things you put into your mind.
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13
We must prepare our minds. Prior to this passage in 6 and 7 we are encouraged to, ..."walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith..." If He is in us, than we need to become like Him. If I am cluttering my mind with just this short list, how can I walk in Him, or become rooted. If my faith is not established in Him, where is my faith?
Jesus wants to reveal Himself to you and I and this passage is clear, our minds must be on Him in order for this to happen.
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." Colossians 2:8
Concerning thoughts of the day, the encouragement continues, "...no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit..." It is easy to jump on the latest moral philosophy bandwagon and seem to Christianize or think it is Christ-like, but more often then not we can get caught up in something that is not in Him.
The world is out to deceive. John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." We must be on guard and weigh everything that enters our minds against scripture.
Where's your mind?
God bless.
"And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God...with all your mind..." Luke 10:27 (edited for focus)
God has been teaching me about the importance of "getting your mind right!" Jesus is quoted above, concerning the greatest command, which also includes four other parts. What if we loved the Lord our God with all our minds?
We allow so much garbage into our minds; a comprehensive list might take days. I thought of a few things that may consume our minds: what I think about myself, what I think about others, what I think others are thinking about me, deciding to cave under peer pressure, music tunes and lyrics, images from print to web, the latest movie star, boy band, TV show, Justin Bieber, magazine advertisements, philosophies, politics, sports, facebook, twitter and more and more clutter.
And this is only a small list. Consider all the things you put into your mind.
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13
We must prepare our minds. Prior to this passage in 6 and 7 we are encouraged to, ..."walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith..." If He is in us, than we need to become like Him. If I am cluttering my mind with just this short list, how can I walk in Him, or become rooted. If my faith is not established in Him, where is my faith?
Jesus wants to reveal Himself to you and I and this passage is clear, our minds must be on Him in order for this to happen.
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." Colossians 2:8
Concerning thoughts of the day, the encouragement continues, "...no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit..." It is easy to jump on the latest moral philosophy bandwagon and seem to Christianize or think it is Christ-like, but more often then not we can get caught up in something that is not in Him.
The world is out to deceive. John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." We must be on guard and weigh everything that enters our minds against scripture.
Where's your mind?
God bless.
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