Seek the Lord

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?
Who may stand in his Holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who does not lift up his soul to an Idol or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
Who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

Psalm 24:3-6


The Holy Hill was the site of the Jerusalem temple, the place in the Old Testament where, prior to the birth and death and resurrection of Jesus, the Israelites would go to meet God and seek redemption and forgiveness for their sins. The good news today is that you no longer need to go to a temple to meet God; you don’t have to climb a hill or go to a sacred place because if you have accepted Jesus then the same God that the Israelites would meet in the Holy Temple is now living inside your heart. In First Corinthians 3:16, the apostle Paul tells us that we are now God’s temple and that God’s Spirit now lives in all who have accepted and believe in Jesus. Clean hands represent guiltless actions and a pure heart is revealed by having the right attitudes and motives for how you live your life. The cool thing today is that if you ask Him then God will change, heal and transform your heart through His Word and by His Spirit in order that you would see and know that God is real and living inside of you as you seek to know and love Him more in this life. Jesus tells us himself in Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Now, I don’t know about you but that is my heart's desire today – to see Almighty God living in and through the lives of His people today – to see Him healing, transforming, comforting and restoring the hearts of His people for whom He died to set them free from the sin and bondage of this fallen world in which we live. Seek God’s face today – ask Him for clean hands and a pure heart in order that you too would see God alive and active in your own life in a way that His love is reflected to the people in the world around you who so desperately need a Savior.

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Addicted To God

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalm 84:1-2

Once you have tasted just a small morsel of what it is like to abide with your Creator, to live life as you were originally created to live with purpose and meaning and fulfillment, once you have had the privilege of experiencing God’s awesome love in your life; you will not be able to stop the quest to know Him more. You will indeed become addicted to God, just as the psalmist so eloquently describes here about His personal yearning and desire for God’s presence in His life. Even still, remember that just as strong as your desire is to know and love God more, that your enemy has a desire to distract your attention and steal your joy and you must not discount his attempts to sideline you in the battle for your heart because if you do, then he will win the battle for the effectiveness of your life even though Jesus has already won the war. So, with that in mind, fight today like you have never fought before to stay focused on God and to abide in His love as He will give you the strength to overcome if you will just trust in Him. Give in to the addiction today to know and love God more and you will see His love overflow from your heart and ignite the hearts of others who are lost and in desperate need of a Savior.

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Godly Motives

All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Proverbs 16:2

Paula and I are considering some major changes in our lives right now as a result of several different circumstances that have happened to us in the past year. The question for us as a godly couple whose goal is to reflect God’s love and live out His purpose in our marriage and in our lives is what is the motive behind the moves that we would like to make. Our intentions, do they flow out of our love for God and others or are they more selfish by nature and driven by our flesh that seems to want to always be in control and always call the shots in our lives if we let it. Sure, our plans seem innocent enough and well deserved one could argue, but what did Jesus deserve and what did He give up on account of His love for us in order that we could live a joyful, free life that is full of love and purpose in Him? What are your plans today for the future? Are they driven out of God’s love that is overflowing from within? What are your motives for the future plans that you have? The next verse in this Psalm reads: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” I would challenge you to ask God today what His plan is for your life, ask Him to weigh your motives in order that your way would be His way – do this and He will go before you assuring success along the way.

God – we commit to you our plans for the future today. We just want to love you and love others and we don’t want to miss the awesome plan and purpose that you have for our marriage and for our lives. Please guide and direct us today into your divine will for our lives in order that we can indeed be free and that we can indeed be used by you to spread your love to a world in need. We love you!

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Love - Faithfulness - Trust

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
For they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:1-6

What a recipe for success and prosperity in this world. Leaning on God’s word for guidance and direction, first and foremost is the beginning of a successful life that can used by God to accomplish great things through Him for the kingdom. Next, but certainly not least is to love God and to love the world around you with God’s love that lives inside of your heart of hearts and is changing you to be more like Christ. Lastly, to measure all of your steps through the barometer of God’s Spirit who gives guidance and direction as you journey through this life, learning to love God with all of your heart and all of your soul and all of your mind, is the final requirement on your part. To let go and let God be in control, even in the smallest of decisions throughout your day; to trust that His way is the best way; and to walk, blindly at times in the providential will of our Lord and Savior who will lead you into a life with Him that will fill your deepest needs and desires as what you really are striving for is an intimate relationship with your Father and friend. Jump into this love relationship today as you let God lead you into a whole new world where life will never be the same.

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Abounding in Love

Abounding in Love

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger,
Abounding in love.

Psalm 113:8

Oh to be like God – to be so compassionate and gracious and unselfish that my heart would be slow to anger and abounding in love – this is my heart's desire that will never happen. You see, as a result of “the fall”, my heart is tainted and your heart is tainted and this world is not like it is supposed to be, and so the utopia of God’s perfect love glowing from my broken heart will never be realized until heaven when you and I will be made new once again to perfection and unity with our Creator. Until then however, Jesus has made a way for God’s love to shine in and through our lives. He says: “Remain in me and I will remain in you.” As we intentionally let God’s Spirit take over the helm in the cockpit of this crazy world in which we live, it is then and only then that others will be able to see just a small glimpse of who God is in and through our lives. It is only as we submit to the direction and control of God’s Spirit that we will realize and transpose to others the awesome love of God that will renew us and one day make us whole! Surrender and submit today and you will encounter a whole new world and an all consuming love that will never let you go.

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He has already Come

I will sing of your love and justice;
To you, O Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life –
When will you come to me?

Psalm 101:1-2

This morning I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, partly because I have been sick the past day and a half and have a ton of work to catch up with and partly because for some reason I was feeling like God was far off and had abandoned me. This feeling is not unlike the feeling that David had here in Psalm 101. The Holy Spirit reminded me this morning that God has not gone anywhere. As much as the enemy would want me to believe the lie that I am on my own, the truth is that God has already come to me through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus and the truth is that He lives inside of my heart of hearts and the refreshing news today is that He will never leave and He is unchanging. Don’t believe the enemy’s lies this morning as he tries to muck up your life with worry and doubt in an effort to redirect your focus away from Jesus and on to your own abilities to muddle through this life. God is near! He loves you and has a plan for your life that might not make sense to you right now but let me assure you this morning that His plan is good and perfect and there is freedom and joy and purpose in God’s divine will for your life. Pray and worship God this morning and the chains that try to bind up your heart for God will fall and you will have peace and you will be free and God will use you right where you are to reach a lost world for Him!

Thank you God that you have not abandoned us, that you will never abandon us, that your love is never changing and always perfect and just what our broken hearts need this morning to heal our wounds and set us free! We love you Lord with all of our hearts!

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Serve Wholeheartedly with God in Mind

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

Ephesians 6:7-8

I was reminded this morning from some precious brothers in Christ of the importance of serving wholeheartedly with the right motive and the right perspective. You see, it is only as we serve others with our eyes on our creator that we will see and understand the reality of who God is and how all good things come from abiding in Him and nothing else. It is easy in this life to lose perspective and to get hung up on the approval or lack of appreciation from those that we serve or work for or minister to. The only way that you will have joy in this life is by maintaining your perspective and love for God as you allow His Spirit to fill your heart as you wholeheartedly serve Him and others with pure motives that flow out of the love that He has given you. No matter what circumstance faces you today; no matter what other people think or say or do; even if you feel like you are the only one who cares, I would encourage you to pour your heart out until it overflows with God’s love into the work that He has called you to do today. God cares and His love is more than enough to fulfill you and keep you running the race of love and servitude, all for the Glory of the one who makes you whole.

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A Father's Love

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15

Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day. This morning, I am reminded of the love that our relationship with our earthly father has been created to model. Our relationship with our earthly father has been created to model the reality of who we are in Christ and how our relationship with Jesus reunites us at the very deepest level to our creator and spiritual Father who now lives inside. As I observe Paula’s relationship with her father I am always moved at the love that she has for him, the safety and protection that she feels in his midst and the unconditional and sacrificial love that Paul (Paula’s dad) has for his daughter. What an awesome earthly example my wife’s relationship with her dad is to the relationship that God wants to have with each and every one of us. The word “Abba” means “daddy” and your Heavenly Father offers you this same love and protection and unconditional sonship today as He just longs for you to look His way and rest in His loving arms. Spend some time with your Father in Heaven today, pour out your heart and let His love heal your wounds and set you free!

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No Condemnation - Only Grace

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17

The first verse that we read here is probably the most quoted scripture verse of our generation and many people have committed it to memory. The interesting thing is that you really need to read verse 17 in order to understand the meaning. You see, not many people really understand what it means to really be free in Christ and not many people understand the grace and love that is available to those who truly put their trust in Jesus Christ. What John is trying to explain here is seen more clearly in the second verse - that life is meant to be lived “through” a living, active relationship with Jesus. He is not just speaking of being saved from eternal damnation but in addition is speaking of being saved from the chains and bondage of sin and depravity that is present in this fallen world in which we live. He is explaining how we as God’s children can be saved from the guilt and shame of not being able to live a “perfect” life and how Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross covers us for any failure or weakness or mistakes that we have made or will make in this life. At the crux of this message from John is not only the story of salvation but in addition the story of the abundant life that a believer can live out on earth as Christ lives and grows inside of a heart that has accepted Him. More important than what happens in heaven is what is happening here and now as you live out the purpose for which God had intended all along. This purpose can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ as you live your life “through” Him, letting His Spirit guide and direct you as you surrender your will to His and learn to love Him more. Let the world see Jesus for who He really is in you today!

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Live to Tell

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Luke 8:38-39

As strangers here in a fallen world the temptation can be great to have the same mindset as this demon possessed man who had been healed by Jesus and to long for and want to be with Jesus in our eternal home called heaven. Jesus would tell you the same thing that he told this man, that you have a job to do first, right where you are. You have a message to tell your family and friends and colleagues and neighbors of how Jesus has rescued your heart and set you free and how He has given you peace and joy and love as you abide with Him and journey to know and love Him more. God wants to use your right where you are today; in your job, in your neighborhood, in your school, at the gym, at the club – wherever God has placed you in this life, you can be sure that He has placed you there for a reason and has given you a story to tell to those around you. You have a story to tell by the way that you live your life, by the love of God that flows out of your heart, and yes, by also using words as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. Live you life today to tell of the Greatness of God and how Jesus has indeed set your heart free!

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On Solid Ground

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9

The enemy has a way of making you feel insecure in this world, even in the midst of doing great things for the kingdom. Pay no attention to the enemy’s promptings this morning as you are on solid ground if indeed you have accepted Jesus into your heart and are living your life through the power and direction of His Holy Spirit. No matter what circumstance or trial that you may be facing today, know that as long as you are being true to yourself by walking this journey with integrity and honesty and seeking God’s plan and direction for what steps that you will take next that your walk will not only be secure but your actions will be blessed by your Heavenly Father who will use your heart of integrity to reach a lost world for Him. Pray now and ask God to give you the strength and the power that you will need today to be found faithful as Jesus’ love overflows from your heart onto a world in great need of His love.

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On Fire for God

"Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the Lord Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands. My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the Lord Almighty

Malachi 1:10-11

God was upset with the Jews who had returned from exile and had rebuilt the city of Jerusalem because over time they had reverted back to their old ways of half-hearted worship through offering blemished sacrifices to the Lord. Since then, God has provided a pure, unblemished sacrifice for us all in His Son, Jesus Christ; however, God is the same God and still expects the very best from us even today. In fact, in Revelation 3:16 he says: “So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” God wants your whole heart today. He wants you to be on fire for him, offering your very best in worship and servitude and praise and surrender. He wants to be at the center of everything that you say and do in order that He can give you the most incredible, abundant life that is only found in Him. Give Him your all today. Bring every thought and every action under the filter and scrutiny of His Holy Spirit who lives inside of your heart of hearts. Let your life be a living sacrifice for God that is on fire for Him in order that all the world would see and know that Jesus Christ is alive and living inside of you in order that they too would believe and be free!

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Birth Verse

But Godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6

I received the coolest birthday card yesterday from a loved one in my family with this verse on it. Isn’t that just like God who has been teaching me lately to be content with Him and with His love in spite of the drama that is happening all around us to prompt one of His children to send me this awesome reminder today of how much He loves me on my birthday. See, what I am beginning to understand lately with my heart that I have known for years to be true in my head is that the greatest thing in this life is our relationship with Jesus as we abide in Him, every minute of every day. Greater than successes of the past or hope for the future; greater than any temporal joy that our limited minds could ever conceive; greater than the next big sale or new house or new friend; greater than our health or our wealth or any other thing that we could ever imagine is the love of our Father who lives inside of everyone who has accepted this great gift of love into his/her heart. I can’t imagine a birthday present that is greater or a love that is more complete or more fulfilling than the love that Jesus has for you and I today.

So with that, I thank my awesome God today for abundant life and for the opportunity to walk with Him and live out this amazing love that is so precious and so real and I pray that it would overflow out of my heart today in a way that others would see Jesus in me and believe. All of my love, forever to the one who has set my heart free!

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Agreements Renounced

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

Have you ever wondered what it is about your life that causes you to make unwise choices so easily at times? Why do we do what we know God would not want us to do? Why is it so hard to obey the direction of God’s Spirit who lives inside and surrender to God’s will instead of our own? Well, believe me, I have struggled with all of these questions and it was not until reading John Eldrige’s latest book (Walking with God) last evening that the reason began to become clear to me. John was discussing this idea of subconscious agreements that we make about who we are and who God is as a result of arrows that have pierced our heart at some point in our life. As I began to think back to painful times in my childhood when I felt all alone and rejected, the Holy Spirit revealed to me agreements that I made deep down in my subconscious when I was very young. These agreements were: 1) My life doesn’t matter; 2) I have to create my own joy in this life, if I don’t create it then it will never happen; 3) I am the only one who cares about me. I then began to list what God says about these lies from the enemy as I remembered His word that is hidden in my heart – 1) My life does matter greatly to God as I am His beloved and He has a plan and purpose just for me in this life; 2) Love and joy come freely from the Father and I can do nothing to earn them; completeness and fulfillment is found only in Him; 3) God is concerned about every detail in my life, He knows every hair on my head and wants nothing less than for me to experience abundant life with Him. What agreements have you made as a result of pain and tragedy? Who has hurt you and what has happened to your view of God and your view of yourself as a result? Ask God to take you there, back to the painful times of your past in order that you can first understand how your heart has been wounded and then gain healing from these wounds by renouncing these agreements and asking the Master Healer to come into your pain and make you whole.

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Amazing Love

I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

Psalm 119:176

In an act of amazing love and amazing grace and unbelievable compassion, God is seeking you out today, even in the midst of sin and struggle and failure. Just like a shepherd seeks out the one lost sheep, God is wooing you back to His presence today. God’s Grace covers any struggle or brokenness that you may be experiencing and all that Jesus asks is that you let His Spirit heal your wounds and that you let the Master Healer restore and transform you heart in such a way that you will be free from the chains of sin in this life that do nothing but bind you up on the inside in such a way that steals your joy and freedom. God is here today to meet you right where you are – look His way, surrender and be free.

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Face of God

Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119:135

What a goal, one that we all should have today as we start out a new week and we are blessed with a new day in which we can live for God. Today, let God’s face shine upon you as you live your life for Him, not worrying about tomorrow or the next day but just enjoying His presence and what He is doing in and through your life right now. Today, obey His commands and communicate with Him in the quietness of your mind as you walk ever so carefully by the direction of His Spirit that lives inside of you. Today, be consumed by the love of Christ and let this love pour out from your heart onto everyone who you meet in hopes that your life may sow a seed of eternal life onto another who is lost and in great need of a Savior. Today, let the worries and anxieties of this life be drowned out in your mind by God’s Word and by His love and by this great joy that only those who have accepted God’s precious gift of love can experience. Today, live your life out loud with a heart that is wide open as God as your Father and Friend holds you in His loving arms that will never let you go!

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