Peace like a ...

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God!"

This is such a beautiful and comforting psalm for many. I was speaking to a friend the other day and we were discussing the seasons of our lives and how this verse is so applicable to us right now. But not in a 'stop, we must rest' way... Before every race, every moment of exertion, there is a pause, a gathering, a stilling of the heart and mind... focus of spirit and thought. We often read this verse and think that we need to stop everything, cease action. Rest. But my friend and I, we both live full lives with much happening around us and in us, decided that we wouldn't stop... but rather in everything we do - in family, in work, in ministry - we would take moments to focus ourselves and our hearts on Jesus and remind ourselves that in everything - He is, and He is God. Today I would encourage you to do the same.

Now  of course I am not encouraging if you need to have rest, because simply put, we all do.  Life has a certain chaos we  let be around us. Think of that imaginary line in the sand you have drawn in your life. We are actually  ok with the mindset of, I will allow this much to be going on in my life. So we make ourselves busy. Our relationship to the God of the universe just simply falls apart. All of sudden we look around and no longer recognize our prayer  & worship life. It's not thriving. It's just holding on. So today in the midst of chaos. Stop if you need it. Rest if you are weary. Ask God to just breathe life into you. Let your mind , heart, and soul be still .

Vision

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

 Vision is a most powerful thing. Having eye sight helps us navigate through the perils and obstacles of our physical world. Having a vision on the inside helps us navigate perils and obstacles of our spiritual world! When God gives you a vision for your life (He has one for every person - Jeremiah 29:11) it helps us stay focused and full of hope when things don't look like they should in the physical world. It's like an internal projector showing you the future God has for you. Our culture is very secularized and through it, we are conditioned to rely solely on our physical senses. The problem is this is very limiting. When people don't recognize the spiritual, they can't see that they are given to it, good or bad, which means they don't know they're being controlled by it! Eph 6:12 "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but spirits and principalities". Those 'spirits and principalities' have led the general populace into not putting emphasis on the spiritual, blinding them to vision that God places inside every person (Ecc 3:11). Relying solely on physical senses causes a 'feedback loop' in our forward growth, with no real outside source to penetrate our vision. It'd be like getting four infants and locking them in a house together until they are 25 and expecting them to grow up mature. They need the nurture, guidance and wisdom of an external influence, a parent, to actually fully realize their maturity potential. The same goes for us! We need the influence of the Almighty Creator, an internal vision, to fully realize our purpose and potential on this planet. 2 Cor 5:7 "We walk by faith and not sight..." - today make sure you switch on your 'internal projector' and let God speak to you about where you are going...and not get caught where you're at!

Sharpen

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 NIV) 

 God has designed and wired us for relationship. Firstly with Him but then also with each other. In Genesis God declares that it's "not good for man to be alone" and creates a "help-mate" for him. Ecc 4 talks about how two together get a greater reward for their effort. Deut 32 alludes to the effort of two people being ten times more powerful than one and Psalm 133 says "where there is unity, God commands a blessing". Matthew 18:20 says "where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them" and Hebrews 10:25 says "And let us not neglect our meeting together..." There is power in relationship and and a blessing that comes with it...don't miss out on it! I've wanted to write on this for a while but I want to encourage each of you to get along to church on a regular basis if you don't already. "But the church has hurt me!" I hear you say...there is no promise that people in the church are perfect, only the promise that "Jesus is the perfected of our faith". The Church is incomplete without you and the gifts and talents God has bestowed on you AND you can't be sharpened without rubbing up against some other irons. It's in the church, God teaches us how to relate to all kinds from all walks, and strengthens us emotionally, mentally, spiritually and relationally for bigger things. Jesus promises to build His Church (Matt 16:18) and that hell will not prevail against it! The church is not a building but His people...and you are His people. I don't know about you, but I wanna be standing on the side that God builds and hell can't prevail against...but it all starts with investing yourself in others...relationships! That's what God has intrinsically designed you for...make a promise to get to church this weekend and rub up against a few irons that will sharpen you. Love you guys.

Conforming or Transforming

^{Romans 12:2} Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I love this picture. It's simple isn't it?. Don't be the white dot. We are called to a pattern of living that separates us from others. The rest of scripture is beautiful in way that shows us the simplicity in following Christ.  I have heard my teens say.. "it's so hard following God... I am tempted. I don't know how to overcome. "  I always pick up this scripture and say..."Have you really read God's word.? Are you letting it change you or just reading a story? ' When you really say " God I let you  change me... TRANSFORM  ME.. then he does. It's when we let his word be a table decoration and only  hear the word at church that we fail to really let the word RENEW our mind. If you thinking is as the same as it was yesterday. Open a devotion. Maybe you find it a challenge to really read the word. Try http://churchofthehighlands.com/bible   I love that this scripture goes on to tell us that we are able to test in life what God's perfect and pleasing will is.  Maybe you are in a struggle to love someone. Maybe you are in moment where you feel stuck.. So today open up God's word and pray for revelation. Let him work in heart and transform your mind.

Waiting

Rushing into decisions is seldom a good idea... Especially if what you're doing is coming from a place of reaction, frustration and anger. I know what it's like when you're in a tough spot and you just want things to change, sometimes any way out of the situation is tempting... When the 'promise' or the 'calling' seems a long way off, it can be convenient, tempting, and even relieving (for a time) to opt for something different... to change paths. But in Psalm 27:14, we are encouraged to wait... be patient... don't opt out ahead of schedule. In that time of 'waiting' do it in His presence, in the word, in prayer with an open heart. It will give you peace, and help you to be of good courage - to hold fast with your head held high. Then the psalm says that the 'Lord will strengthen your heart.' And when your strength comes from God, no amount of waiting can weaken it. So be encouraged today - stay the course, immerse yourself with Him, and your time will come.

Thoughts

“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” - Prov 4:23 NCV

OK…take a deep breath…and strap in. The next few days I am going to challenge you...and for some it won't be easy…but it will be fruitful! Your thoughts are the battleground for your heart…and ultimately your life. Think of it like this, your thoughts are like the defensive wall, and your heart the throne room, of a fortified castle. The enemy will do everything he can to conquer that defensive wall because then the heart becomes vulnerable! The Word of God teaches us to take hold of our thinking and yield to Jesus…this is something that takes time and diligence but is exceptionally rewarding when you're on the other side of a victory. Your thought life can literally transform you from the person you are today to totally new person in Jesus. It's not just the Bible that says this.

 Psychologists and cutting-edge scientists are now suggesting that our thoughts affect and ultimately determine the person we become. It's no wonder the Proverbs says "…your thoughts run your life". Today your goal is to take an inventory of what you think on. Does it line up with the word of God? Are you thinking about yourself and others…with love...the way God does? Feel free to report back on your progress through the day and have a great day.

Let the light....

2 Cor 4:6 God who is able to call light out of darkness - dispell deep set blackness with just a word - has caused HIS light to dwell in our hearts through Jesus Christ. Darkness is not a problem to God - He is not scared of it or threatened by it... It dosn't take him by surprise or shock Him... He just illuminates darkness with His Glory and love - not to expose it, but to dispell it. The light of God is not accusational in its illumination, but rather cleansing, truth defining, freeing and full of hope. The darkness within you - we all have it, and it doesn't mean evil within you - whatever you've hidden in a dark corner, whatever situation you keep under wraps and out of the way, the fears and abuse that have locked you in a dark and confusing space - Let the light of Jesus shine over them... Its like morning light on perfect day... warm, cleansing and hopeful. His light within us, even in the dark places, is healing and strengthening... and causes His light not just to shine in us, but out of us - into the darkness that so many face. Enjoy the sunshine wherever you are...