Where, Oh Where, Are You Tonight?!?!

           When I was a kid, our family loved watching HeeHaw (a country music/comedy show).  My favorite segment of the show involved two people singing this funny little jingle about true love lost - “I searched the world over and thought I found true love.  You met another and thhpppppp – you were gone!”  (My sisters and I used to sing this to each other and quite enjoyed spitting on one another in the process…but I digress.)

            Anyway, our True Love really has looked the world over for you and for me; and I cannot help but feel we often follow the old jingle line: “We met another and thhpppppp - we were gone!”  There are plenty of seductive callers out there just waiting to steal our attention from the ONLY ONE Who loved the whole world so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for our sakes.  Materialism, Vanity, Philosophy, Politics, Media, Hobbies, Human Idols, Illegitimate Relationships and, yes, even Religion can pull our adoration away from Jesus Christ faster than we can say, “Amen”!

            There are many voices calling out your name right now, but there is ONLY ONE Who loved you enough to die for you. 

 

Do yourself a favor…

go “thhpppppp” on the world and run to Jesus!

                                                                                                     

James 4:4-5

Adulterers and adulteresses!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.   Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

 

Suggested Prayer

Dear Lord, I cannot help but feel grateful that You are a jealous God.  For You to be jealous when my attention is drawn away from You, speaks of the fierceness and depth of Your love for me!!!  I love how You yearn for my time and affection!  Please, forgive my wandering heart:  I have set my heart and my faith on luxuries, ideologies, and people. I have been unfaithful to You.  (Pray and confess specifics relevant to your life.)  I pray You would restore my heart, Lord.  Give me eyes that appreciate the beauty of Your Holiness – ears to hear and heed Your voice - and a body that strives to do Your will.  You gave Your life for me; by Your grace, may I live my life for You!  Let Your Holy Spirit transform me – cause me to love You with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength! 

In Jesus name, I pray…Amen!

God's Word is Not a Mere Guideline...

There is no question we live in the self-help; do-it-yourself; be self-sufficient era!  You want a better self-image?   Watch my show!  You want to catch a husband?  Subscribe to my magazine!  You want a hassle-free, problem-free, stress-less, financially rich, fulfilling, never-a-dull-moment life?  Buy my book!  Unfortunately, it appears the “self-help” era has brought with it the moral disease of a “self-glory” agenda.  And sadly, many who profess to be believers treat the Holy Word of God as a mere self-help book – a nice book of guidelines. 

            Do not be deceived by the world, the enemy or your own flesh:  Treating God’s word as a compilation of suggestions or rejecting His truths as antiquated, primitive ideas in the short term can make you look wise; prosperous; or even desirable, but it will result in the curse of consequence.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 clarifies God’s Word is not a mere list of suggestions; through it He teaches us right from wrong. His Word has the power to bring a change of heart as well as a change in lifestyle.  His Word does not just tell us what to do, it tells us how to do it. 

It is profitable!  It will make us complete!

It will equip us to accomplish His Perfect Will!

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness 

that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for ever good work.

 

Suggested Prayer

Lord, I praise you for John 1:1 teaches You are the Word.  The Psalms declare your Word is proven and is right; therefore, I thank You I can trust in Your Word without fear or faltering.  Lord, safeguard me from the lies of the world, the enemy, and my flesh that would cause me to question the legitimacy of Your Word or cause me to question its relevance to my life in the here and now.  By the power of Your Word, create in me a submissive heart starved for Your truth.  Give me understanding for your teaching and humility to receive Your loving rebuke.  Empower me to make righteous choices. Instruct me how to apply Your Word practically.  Let all this be so I may be complete – whole – neither needing nor desiring the wares of the world; that I may have all the spiritual tools I need to accomplish your Perfect Will and Perfect Agenda in my life for the benefit and blessing of all those whom You have placed in my life.

In Jesus name, I pray…Amen

The Imperfect Worship the Perfect One

One morning years ago, I had gone to church exceptionally heavy-hearted.  I was grievously disappointed, because I had failed to make righteous choices that particular week.  I always enjoyed worship, but that morning I struggled to so much as lift my head, much less my hands before the Lord, feeling my worship would be hypocritical.  As I felt myself withering inside, the worship leader stopped the music and said, “I know some of you have had a pretty tough week.  You’ve fallen to weaknesses and temptations; you feel you have failed and are hindered in worshipping the Lord.  But we do not worship the Lord because we are perfect, we worship the Lord because He is perfect!” 

I cannot express how that truth liberated me - despite my frailties and failures – I felt I could still come before the throne of grace and delight in the Lord because His compassions fail not.

Let us worship the Lord for He is Perfect.

His Love is Perfect.  His Compassion is Perfect.

And He Fails Not!
 

Lamentations 3:22-24

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

Suggested Prayer

Father, I praise You, for Your own Son, Jesus Christ, declared You as Perfect (Matt. 5:48).  In You lies no deceit, no darkness nor evil intention against Your people.  I thank You, for though I am imperfect in my thoughts, words and actions, I can look to You, the Perfect One, to deliver and transform me for Your glory.  I worship You with freedom from all condemnation because You have extended Your loving mercy to me.  In spite of my weaknesses and failures, I can lift my face and my hands to You, for Your compassions have never failed to uphold me.  Thank you for this beautiful new morning and the dawning of a priceless understanding:  “Great is Your Faithfulness”!  When I become overwhelmed by my imperfections, I can set my hope in You for You are my Portion – my Inheritance – You Lord, are the greatest Gift of my life! 

Let the enemy who has taunted me be put to shame for Your glory!!!

In Jesus’ name and for His namesake, I pray…Amen!