What Can I Do?

Scripture:

Matthew 7:24-29
2 Corinthians 3:4-6

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Over the last decade or so I had become fairly good with my I.T. skills.  I have always been quick to learn new things.  In summer of 2009 I took on a new job with little to no knowledge in the field.  Over the course of the first year I learned a ton of new things and quickly got up to speed.  Recently I took on the task of writing a database in MS Access for someone.  Most of which went well with little trouble.  However as I near the final stages of the database I run into problems.  I have reached a road block.  Given resources and time I am confident that I can learn what is needed to finish the task.

Why am I so confident in my task at hand.  Simple answer is that it is not me but Christ in me that will succeed.  I attribute all I have done and can do to Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.  My goals have been to follow the teachings of Jesus.  Not only to hear His words but to put them into practice.  2 Corinthians 3:5 says it all " ⁵Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but ^(B)our adequacy is from God,"  My success is not of my doing but Christ in me.  My ability to learn new things is not of me BUT what Christ has given me.

First we must seek out Christ.  We must not only hear his words but to put into practice what He teaches us.  Then we must allow Christ to work in us and through us.  It cannot be my doing or about me.  It must be about Christ and what He does...

To God be the glory given...


Prayer:
Our Father in Heaven it is my prayer that you will speak to my heart.  It is my prayer that I not only hear your words but put into practice what I learn.  May you be given the credit for all I do.  May I never forget it is you that is working through me and not me at all.  Help me to keep my heart focused on you not only today but everyday...

Traditions & Loop Holes...

Scripture:

Mark 7:1-13

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Our Daily Bread's devotional today talked about look holes.  How when we find one we try to jump through it.  In by doing so we become disobedient to God. If you look at taxes and tax laws you can find dozens of loop holes in order to get out of paying taxes.  On one hand we all want to find the loop hole in order to save ourselves a little money.  On the flip side our government gets less of a budget to work with, not that that stops them...

However, one of the things that really stood out to me in Mark 7 is traditions.  Traditions can be good for us.  They teach us who we are and where we come from.  We learn about our past.  But, when do they become a burden instead of a benefit?  I remember when I was growing up when traditions became an issue.  One of the things I heard most from certain people is "That is the how we have always done it."  Another saying is "We never did it that way before."  

Heaven forbid should the church try something new or different. 

One time The sanctuary needed to be repainted.  There were paint chips in the walls and ceiling bigger than your fist.  The carpet also needed to be replaced.  The board of trustees decided to paint the sanctuary and even agreed on a color.  An offer for a good deal on carpet was given.  They had to commit to it fairly quickly.  Again the trustees decided to get the carpet.  You would have thought the devil came through the doors.  Things got so bad that several of us thought the church might actually split over the color of the walls and carpet.

I for one love traditional services.  I love the meaning behind what is done.  I often have trouble in new churches that are more contemporary in style.  I realized I was becoming one of those people that get stuck in tradition.  I am still learning to embrace a different style of worship.  I feel sad at the loss of some of our traditions.  However, in our current church all my children love to go.  They can't wait to go to what the little ones call "Dark Out Church" Wednesday night programs.  Sunday morning is "Light Out Church" and once again the little ones cannot wait to pick out outfits to wear.  My older two also love to go.  They have puppetry ministries, Extreme groups, and friends to see.  They learn and grow more where we are than they have ever done so in the past.  They have grown more spiritually at Crossroads than at all the traditional churches we have gone to combined.

Sometimes we can stifle or kill spiritual growth if we bog it down in tradition.  People get turned off if you try to shove traditions down their throat.  I think the worst thing we can ever say to someone is "That is not how we use to do it" or "That is not how we do things here."  As long as we are scripturally sound, biblically correct what does it really matter...

Who Is Your Fortress...

Scripture:

Psalm 46

Joshua 2:1-24

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"God is our refuge and strength..."

How many times in our lives have we felt overwhelmed?  We feel surrounded by enemies and feel over powered by them.  Surely the two spies Joshua sent ahead to Jericho must have felt out numbered.  Surely they were a bit nervous being surrounded by an enemy that wanted them dead.  Or did they know that God was with them and no harm would come to them?  Psalm 46 tells us that God is our fortress and that he is with us "...an ever present help in trouble."

There have been times in my life I have felt overwhelmed by the enemy.  I feel as if I were drowning with no hope.  When faced with moments like that we must remember that God is our refuge, He is our strength.  Psalm 46:11 "The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."  If God is for us who can stand against us?  If he is our refuge who can over come us?  The enemy is all around us.  As David was surrounded and chased by Saul so we are surrounded and chased by the enemy.  Saul wanted to kill David, Satan wants to remove us from God's presence.  

We must be ready for when Satan comes after us.  We must put on the full armor of God in order to withstand.  Ephesians 6:10-14 

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

If we stand in God's presence nothing can stand against us.  Psalm 46:1 & 11 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble... The LORD Almighty is with us; the god of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" 

If God is for us who can stand against...

God Qualifies The Called...

Scripture:

Joshua 1:1-9

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I am sure Joshua did not feel that he was up to the challenge of leading the Israelites into the promised land.  He faced a challenge that was bigger than he was.  I remember one time I was preparing for a devotional at a men's breakfast at church.  I remember thinking to myself who am I to get up and speak about God to all these men, most of which are older than I am. I  didn't feel worthy of the task.  I thought for sure God could better use someone more qualified than I.

A realization hit me at that time.  God was telling me that He didn't call someone qualified for the task.  He will qualify those he calls.  If we are already qualified and worthy of the task then where is God's glory?  If we step up to the task God gives us God will qualify us and enable us to fulfill His work.  All we have to do is answer the call and willingly serve Him.  As God was with Moses and Joshua He will be with us. Joshua 1:5 "⁵"^(E)No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; ^(F)I will not fail you or forsake you."  God will not let us fail or forsake us.  He has a purpose and wants certain things done.  He will see them to completion.  The question is will you step up to the task He has set before you?  Or will you walk away and miss His blessings?  God will give you what you need to succeed. He will not allow you to fail.  When we fail it is our own doing.  

Some of the tasks will be difficult.  The challenges may overwhelm us at times.  All we have to do is remember that God is with us.  He will give us what we need to succeed.  We just need to rely on Him and use the resources He gives us.  We need to tap into the support we can give one another.  For God also gave us each other... 
 

God Bless,
"In God We Trust"