Tag: God’s promises

SPIRITUAL WINDOW SHOPPING

On By glendarouseIn Uncategorized2 Comments

COUNT UP THE COST!

Window shopping or browsing is examining goods or services through the window and not intending to purchase anything.

Growing up in small-town Arkansas, during the Baby-Boomer Era, we received the Sears Robuck Catalog. One of my favorite things to do was perusing the catalog. We called it the “Wish Book”, The Christmas edition would get worn out by the end of December. This was our only form of wide-variety window shopping. My siblings and I would circle everything we wanted and hand it to my parents. We were too young to understand that the “Wish Book” was not a promise book.

Window shopping continues to be a favorite time for many. You may be thinking, “What does window shopping have to do with Access to the promises of God?” Check out the relevance.

Spiritual Window Shopping:

Many Christians spend time weekly, spiritual window shopping. However, the largest spiritual shopping day is Sunday morning when millions worship in the House of the Lord. The word of God is spoken and many in the seats, hear and see the word, but fail to access and experience the promises due to the obedience factor. They browse the Bible or the screen picking and choosing the word they like, or will follow, leaving on the podium or screen the cutting, life-changing word they will not follow.

Spiritual window shoppers only view the promises of God. Embracing God’s promises requires a “Tag/Marking”. Yes, there are tags on God’s promises, and the “Tag or Marking” identifies the cost and it’s not a dollar value. It is a “Faith value”.

Count up the Cost!

The Watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10:1) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ” (John 10:27)

How does it make you feel that Jesus knows and calls you by name?

“My sheep!” says Christ describing his people, those who have come to Him or those who will become His; Redeemed by His power, willingly and cheerfully surrendered themselves to Him! His own peculiar property.

Christ is the proprietor of the sheep. If that describes you, then you are positioned to access His promises.

When there are so many flocks of sheep, it is necessary to mark them. Our savior marks us. There are two tags or marks on Christ’s sheep, not found on any other sheep. (1) mark on the ear, “they hear my voice. (2) the mark on the foot, ” I know them, and they follow me.”

His sheep hear spiritually. They listen to or give heed, they obey His call. Their spiritual ear listens to God. They hear not just with the outward organ, but with the inward heart. They hear His voice, His counsel, His command.

Christ tagged or marked his sheep on their feet as well as ears. They follow Him. They are gently led, not harshly driven. The sheep of Christ follow Him as their example.

ACCESS TO THE PROMISES OF GOD:

Self Examination/ Introspection:

Do you have the earmark/tag? Do you have the footmark/tag? Are you His sheep or just a window shopper, browsing the things of God? Are you accessing the promises of God?

Obediently following Jesus opens the flow of God’s promises into the life of Christ-followers.

If you have not accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, invite Him into your heart, to govern your life. Salvation is much more than life after death. Embrace the earmark and the footmark God has given you that will take you through this earthly life.

No more browsing and window shopping through life. Access everything God has for you, now! Listen/obey His voice and follow Jesus!

Related Reading: John 101-18; Psalm 23; Isaiah 9:6; Ezekiel 34:25-31; Revelation 2:17.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

You are my Savior and Lord. I am not perfect and I thank you that you don’t require perfection, but holiness. From this day forward I strive to be more and more like you, embracing all of your promises. You are my Shepherd and I am your sheep. Amen!

WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE?

On By glendarouseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Have you noticed how easily we excuse ourselves today? However, making excuses has been a go-to for humankind since the beginning of time. We even change the name of things as a cover for the reasons behind our actions, especially when we know they are sinful and offensive to God.

Some of our excuses sound like, “That’s the way I was raised”, “This is just the way I am”, “He started it”, “I was tired and having a bad day”, “Everyone else is doing it”, “The woman you put here with me gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” “It’s his fault.” “Maybe it’s even God’s fault but surely it’s not my fault!

This is a big one today, sometimes we change the name to cover our sins: It’s not gossip; it’s sharing; it’s not coveting, it’s admiring, it’s not lying; it’s explaining; it’s not homosexuality; it’s trans, LGBTQ alphabet; it’s not cheating; it’s swinging; it’s not man and woman; it’s gender based on how you feel on the inside. No matter the label you wear God love all people and welcome each one to his table of cleansing, restoration and renewal.

What excuses have you made recently to God, others, and yourself for sin? How have you renamed your sin to make it sound better?

“If we cover our sin, God will expose it. If we expose our sin, God will cover it.” The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of not coming to God for forgiveness.” God doesn’t overlook or forgive excuses, but He does offer forgiveness for sin. He patiently waits for us to confront our wrongdoing and label it for what it is: sin.

Psalm 51: 1, “O God have Mercy on Me!, O God according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

When we:
  • Confess our sins
  • Seek repentance,
  • God removes them as far as the east is from the west.

Envision a globe in your mind – no matter how far you travel, you will never encounter the west by heading east. This illustrates the extent to which God is willing to cleanse, forgive and make us new.

(Read the previous post “Never Forget Clean Hands”)

A. Repentance frees us.

B. Honesty renews us.

C. God’s mercy cleanses us.

When there is something in your life that isn’t right, you need to get it out. Your behavior changes when you repent because you’ve changed the way you think about your choices and behaviors.

Until we stop making excuses we are not ready to be forgiven. Whether we think we are above the law, (as David apparently thought when he chose to send for the married Bathsheba) or that our action is okay if others started it (as Adam thought in the Garden) Our excuses cover us as poorly as the Adam and Eve’s fig leaves in the Garden of Eden.

(Add Psalm 51: 1-19 to your daily prayer time.) Share this commitment with those you love. Because God loves them more.

Lord, give me the courage to be honest with myself and to be honest with you. Holy Spirit, I invite you to search my heart and point out anything that offends you. I’m not going to make excuses. I’m not going to try to defend myself. I invite you to bring anything else to light that I’m not aware of and I will confess it so that you can cleanse me anew. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

FOLLOW THE PEACE!

On By glendarouseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Have you ever been bombarded by life? Maybe your day is filled with more bad news and less good news? Especially, when the barge of life requires you to make tough decisions, life-changing with few choices. In the beginning of creation, the first lesson we as Christians learned when it comes to choices, there are two choices, “Tree of Good” and “Tree of Evil”. So, even today we must examine the fruit to determine which tree do your choices align with, all the way to the root level.

Secondly, when we have unexpected situations and circumstances to appear we see no way out of a no-way situation. Go to the Lord in prayer and “Listen” for His direction. Stop being “Chatty Kathy or Chatty Karl” and try some listening prayer. In my personal no-way situation, first the enemy tried to bombard my mind with a mirage of defeating thoughts. That brain confusion led me to get quiet before the Lord and listen to what He has to say. I heard in my spirit, “Follow the Peace, my daughter!, Do you trust me, the Prince of Peace?”

Moreover, the Son of God has become the Prince of Peace so that we, the children of God, may become the peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9)

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) 

Immediately as I was reminded of who Jesus is to me, Peace enlarged my heart, and though my situation was the same, I am at peace knowing that God has a plan. I trust the Lord, leaning not to my own understanding. (Prov. 3:6) I am standing on the promise that “He will supply every need of mine according to His riches in glory, (Phil. 4:19)

Be encouraged today and everyday! Follow Jesus, the Peace, and stand on his promise, for “He who promised is faithful!” (Heb. 10:23)

Prayer:

Lord, today I choose the tree of life. I thank you that Life in Christ is abundant and sure. No worries will fill my heart about my life situations again, for my heart is filled with you, “Peace” because I recognize that you are well able to take care of all of my needs. In Jesus Name, Prince of Peace, “Today, I follow the Peace!” Amen.