The Christian Walk

I don't know what part of the country you are living in but here in CA we are experiencing lots of rain. My father in law who lives in the U.K. said that its really bad there- snow, freezing temperatures and closed roads. I actually like the rain this time of year. I just want to get cozy by the fire and bake some Christmas cookies! I was reading the Bible Bus today and it was the passage of Haggai about how God actually withheld the rain because his people were not doing what he desired them to do. He says; "consider your ways. You have sown much and harvested little. You eat, but never have enough; you drink, but never have your fill, you clothe yourselves but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes."And I have called for a draught on the land and the hills, the grain, new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors." (Haggai 1:5-6 & 11)Have you ever felt like you were just...

Is anything to hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14) This Christmas season we are reminded of the precious birth of Jesus. It still amazes me that the God of the universe choose to come down to earth in such a humble way to save us. In times past I have doubted his love but he has proved me wrong again and again- Christmas is always a reminder. When he is silent, or I am suffering or waiting for His word- I am reminded that He paid it all- on the cross at Calvary. This is the incredible depth of his love. In that manger was the precious Son of God- he is the most precious gift anyone could ever receive. For the past several years (always around Christmas)God has told me that He does the impossible. This past Sunday at church we listened to the account of Mary being told that she would conceive; " Then the angel said to her, do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will...

In my ethics class our assignment was to interview three therapists and ask them this question: "If you were counseling someone and they disclosed to you that they had HIV and they have not told their partner, what would you do?" All three of my respondents said that they had a duty to warn and that they would tell the partner. The psychologist I interviewed said that she would tell her client that if he didn't tell his partner- she would. Of course she would try and encourage him to do it- she even said that she would make the therapy session free if he brought his partner in. Anyway after all this research on the subject I found out that we could get into trouble if we warn the client. The law in CA isn't' clear in this case but there is a good probability that if the therapist breaks confidentiality- the therapist could suffer the consequences. My professor stated that we can't break confidentiality in this case. Don't you hate it when someone tells you...

I went to court with a friend that I've known since high school. She went through a terrible divorce three years ago and now there is a custody battle. They have three beautiful children whose ages vary, but the youngest is five. The husband currently has custody because she has had some severe mental illness and has been unable to take care of the children. Unfortunately, the husband has tried every trick in the book to keep her away from her kids and for awhile it seemed to be working. He even got a restraining order to keep her away from the kids! I have watched her desperately cry and have seen her pain at the loss of the marriage and children. I've seen the games that both parties have played with each other. How they have both used the children to get back at each other. Its horrifying and sad. The middle child is estranged from his mother and won't even talk to her. I've wondered why, you know? Like wow I am amazed that she lost everything! She is a Christian wom...

2 Chronicles 26 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king. He was young and inexperienced but his advisor Zechariah taught him to fear God. Scripture says that "He set himself to seek God" (2 Chronicles 26:5, ESV)and as long as he did this, "God made him prosper." (2 Chronicles 26:5) So Uzziah became powerful and strong he had "large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war.." (2 Chronicles 26: 10-11) many soldiers and tons of army equipment, tools, and engines. Unfortunately, he became so strong that he became prideful. His first mistake was forgetting where his power came from. Scripture says that "his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. God helped him, built him up, and made him strong. So he forgot who gave him all these good things. This in turn...

1. Many times our thoughts will dictate how we feel- if we get a lid on our thoughts- this will help us to control our feelings. Practice and start small like break it up in time slots that you practice. For example; you can practice from like noon till 4pm and keep doing this until it becomes a habit. Its not easy and the enemy will immediately try to discourage you! Then when you are assaulted by feelings of despair, anxiety, discouragement, fear... name what emotion it is and pray in the name of Jesus to rebuke the demon of fear or whatever it is. And keep praying until it goes away. 1 Peter 1:13 A Call to Holy Living So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 The Spiritual War 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting d...

Today's reading was from 1 Kings 12:20. All but the tribe of Judah was under the authority of king Jeroboam's leadership. Unfortunately, he was a wicked king who lead the people astray. He made two golden calves and told the people that these calves are what brought them out of Egypt. He also appointed priests that weren't from the tribe of Levi, he made temples in high places, and made sacrifices there. He also instituted a feast day to offer sacrifices to the gods. God sent a man to Bethel to go to the altar there and pronounce judgement against the sins of the false priests there. He said that a man named Josiah would be born from the dynasty of David and on this altar would burn the bones of the priests of these pagan shrines. The man of God also said that there would be a sign and the sign would be that the altar would be torn in two and its ashes poured out. The king was angry and called for the man of God to be seized but as he was shouting and pointing his hand froz...

I was reading a devotion from Oswald Chambers today and God really spoke to my heart. He was talking about how when we let God choose for us- that its always the best choice. In our own limited thinking skills we tend to make choices that make sense practically, financially, ease of comfort, basically we choose things that we see will work for us. We want our way because we think that we know what we need and what will be best for us. However, God sees the full complete picture and we can be confident that he will always choose the best for us. He is our shepherd that leads us beside still waters, comforts our souls, and gives us rest. He has our best interests at heart. The interesting thing is that when we learn to trust in Him and his direction for our lives we wonder why we were ever holding onto this or that thing and why we are so resistant to his will. Like we know better?! I am learning that I can no longer presume things. I can no longer say ok Lord, I am going to do this or ...

Ephesians 3:20 (New King James Version) 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. I love this passage. I was reading the In Touch magazine by Charles Stanley and he wrote a devotion about this verse. He basically said that we wait for God to act on our behalf, to right the wrongs, to rescue us from disaster, to do what we ask Him! But many times God will not change the circumstances or he will wait- instead He does a work within us and he changes our heart according to his glory and purpose. For so long I have worked in my own efforts to accomplish something only to fail or be disappointed. I am learning to seek him for direction, pray, and see what he does or doesn't do. Many times he's more interested in our character than our circumstances. Don't we always just want him to fix things, us, other...

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I was reading Samuel 13 and it was about how Saul was disobedient to God. Samuel told Saul to wait 7 days and then he would come back to Saul and make a sacrifice before the Lord so that when they went into the battle they would have God's favor. Well.. Samuel didn't come back at the appointed time and so Saul became panicky and decided to make the sacrifice himself so that he would have God's favor. Right after that Samuel comes and this is what he says; But Samuel said , "What have you done ?" And Saul said , "Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days , and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash , therefore I said , 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal , and I have not asked the favor of the LORD .' So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering ."13 Samuel said to Saul , " You have acted foolishly ; you have not kept...

God commands the new leader Joshua to be strong and courageous and God promises several things; 1. I will be with you, 2. I will not leave you or forsake you, 3. You will have good success, 4. Your way will be prosperous. 5. You will cause this people to inherit the land. However, God commands several things: 1. Be careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you.. 2. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left.. 3. This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth. 4. You shall meditate on it day and night. 5. Do not be frightened, do not be dismayed. We read in several chapters later that someone in the group disobeys God's order to devote all things to destruction and instead this person takes some of the booty and hides it for himself. After this God's protection, direction, and favor leave the Isrealites. Joshua finds the problem and deals with it as God commands and then God once again is ready to lead the people into the Promised La...

Today's challenge; Say a word of encouragement to someone who needs it. Today's verse is from Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. I know the feeling of anxiety. Its horrible, it feels like there is something that I need to do to change a situation but I don't know what it is. The first thing that I do is pray, then get others to pray and then ask God for answers, then wait and see what he says. God commands us to be anxious for nothing, instead pray about everything. When we tell him our problem he has an answer and he knows the best one. So sometimes its just waiting on His word. The answer can be yes, no, or wait, and wait means yes. The amazing thing is that he does see and hear our prayers and he wants us to believe that when we ask him for something that that he will indeed grant us our request. Jesus says to ask and be persistent. He says that if we who are wicked, give good things to our children- then God being pe...

This is my challenge; to be diligent with my time and the work that I need to get done. I looked up the word and this is what I got; Diligence- is a zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work, exemplified by a decisive work ethic, budgeting of one's time, monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness , and putting forth full concentration in one's work. Diligence is usually promoted in work places. It is one of the seven heavenly virtues in Catholic religion. This was the verse for today; The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. Proverbs 12:24

So I was thinking today that I should challenge myself.. I am reading the daily Bible Bus and there are always passages from the Proverbs, Psalms, NT, and OT. So I figure that between all those different readings I could really find a command- and do it. Today I was reading about how Jesus was talking and He said; Luke 12:33 "Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys." So I am committing to have a yard sale and the proceeds will go to The Gathering Inn.

I was thinking about how there have been many times in life where I have been driven in my quest for God and what he would have me do. He has been working on my heart and I don't have that same drive anymore. It almost makes me worry a bit- like maybe I am not doing all that I should be doing for the Lord. I was wondering this last night in my bed and I turned in my Bible to the passage about how Isaac was the son of promise, while Ishmael on the other hand, was a son of the flesh. Galatians 4:2121 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which n...

I went to see the film; Alice in Wonderland this past weekend with the family. I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't a musical. Otherwise, Johnny Depp was great in it and the queen made the movie more interesting. She had all her subjects cowering. At one point in the movie one of the characters asks her if its better to be loved or feared and she doesn't respond right away. Later on when her subjects begin to get out of control she affirms that indeed, it is better to be feared. If people fear her, then they will do what she says. I was thinking about our great king up in heaven and how he doesn't sit and ponder how he can manipulate us to love him more or fear him- he just is who he is. His love is so perfect that he sent his son to dwell with his creation in humility and die a death so horrific and brutal, so that we can live and have life with him. There is no greater love. This is how he shows his love, and he doesn't force us to love him or fear him- he jus...

Today I was reading the daily "Bible Bus" (Bible in a year) and the reading this morning was Numbers 14. In summary this is the time when God tells the chosen people to take the land of the Canaanites. The spies come back with a bad report about the land- they tell the Israelites that the people there are giants, they are stronger, and the city is "well fortified." Only Caleb and Joshua disagree. In fact, Joshua encourages the camp and says; " The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." (Numbers 14:7-9) Joshua said four significant things; do not rebel, do not fear the people, they are bread for us, and the Lord is with...

This past Sunday my pastor was discussing the prodigal son and "the older son." He was saying that basically neither one was really interested in the father, but only what they could get from the father. In my walk as a Christian I must admit that I have been in both camps. I've been the son who was desperate, tired, out of resources, completely broken, and had nothing to offer. I've walked the path of humility back to the father. Its difficult because I realized that I am absolutely nothing, I have nothing, and I was that smelly filthy rags person-that the father took back. I think that the son knew deep in his heart, that the father was good and although he didn't deserve to come back and get anything-he realizes that he has nothing, and is nothing without the father. What joy when the son comes back to the Father and the Father restores him and hugs him and gives him the best- has a celebration for this smelly, dirty, sinful man! That is our wonderful Father! T...

As I was singing in church this morning this particular song rejoiced my heart. Its called, "marvelous light." It talkes about how death has lost its sting and how we are out of darkness, out of shame and into the light. As children of the king, our old nature was crucified on that cross and now we have risen with Christ and we have a new nature. We can rejoice because we have victory over the power and darkness of sin and death! Jesus saves, Jesus loves, Jesus is our victorious savior! Praise Him! 54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinithians 15:54-57, NKJV) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAQJKZJ...