Devotional: Not Judge Nor Jury

Have you ever heard the expression, "All that glitters is not gold"? When it comes to our reflection, that is very much true. No, I'm not talking about the reflection we see in the mirror every morning. I'm talking about the reflection of our actions. Who we are and what we believe may be completely misconstrued by our actions. However, our actions do not always reflect our relationship with the Lord.

This is a very common occurrence and has been since the beginning of time... we reach out in love to those who don't know the Lord or who have just come to know the Lord. They stumble, but we are still there to encourage them and support them. Then, when someone we know that has been in a relationship with the Lord for years stumbles, we look at them and say, "How could they do that? I thought they were a Christian!" What's worse is our reasoning behind our assessment: They should have known better. It is easier, unfortunately having done it myself, to say this because those who follow God are, in the eyes of society, held to a higher standard. So when someone makes a mistake or does something that others question, our integrity and our relationship with God is scrutinized. For example, and this seems to be a popular one that many Christians and football fans talk about: Tim Tebow and Camilla Belle. I can honestly say that I don't know where Camilla Belle stands as far as a relationship with God goes, and some of her movies raise red flags. So based on these things, and having no real knowledge of the true Camilla Belle, it is understandable that people would question a romantic relationship between Tim and Camilla. Yet, when people talk about their relationship, they don't point a finger of judgement at Camilla. They point it at Tim. That is where our fault lies. We look at people and make judgements and assumptions based on another's actions. Here is a way of looking at it though: the bible is full of people who, during their time, were questionable. Rahab was a prostitute, yet she believed in God and helped the two spies that came to her house. David is another good example. David lusted after Bathsheba. He wanted her so bad that he sent her husband off to the frontlines of battle so he would be killed. David then claimed her as his own. You will still find though that in later scriptures (Acts 13:22) that God refers to David as "A man after my own heart." Though David messed up, he still served the Lord with every ounce of his being. Peter, the apostle, denied Jesus three times before Jesus was crucified, yet even after his denial, he served the Lord and taught His ways until his death.

When I was young, I used to read the Berenstain Bears books all the time.In one of the books that I read, Sister Bear was helping Mama Bear peal apples. In one of the baskets, Sister Bear found a really bumpy, deformed apple and wanted to throw it away because she thought it was bad. When Mama Bear cut open the apple, there was nothing wrong with it. It just looked bad. Then Sister Bear found a regular apple, and when Mama Bear cut it open, it was filled with worms. Matthew 7:16 & 20 says, By their fruit you will recognize them... Thus, by their fruit, you will recognize them. Not every piece of fruit is going to be the perfect color, shape or size, but it can still be good fruit. The same goes for people. Not every person that follows the Lord is going to be perfect, but we must understand that even though we can't achieve perfection, it doesn't mean that our heart is not for and with the Lord. Matthew 7:3-6 says: "Why do you look at the  speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and oay no attention the the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." So next time, when we see something questionable or wrong, let's not judge but extend grace. Romans3:22-24... This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Most Sought After God

When you watch a movie nowadays, even the sci-fi and action movies have romantic elements in them. You will always find a good portion of women gushing over a romantic chick flick. And in most of these movies, the man pursues the woman as if his life depends on it. For example, what woman wouldn't want a man to walk through her front door and say "You complete me" just like Tom Cruise in Jerry McGuire? It was this simple but beautiful statement that held so much meaning! It says "please love me, my  heart can't survive if you leave" or "please don't throw away everything we have together!" This is exactly how God sees us! We may not see it or know it, but God NEEDS us!

When you read the story of Adam and Eve in the bible, it talks about them walking in the garden with God. What not many people realize is that God didn't create us to so he could watch us destroy ourselves. God created us because he wanted someone to love and someone who would love him in return. This brings to mind the quote from a movie: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." When God created Adam and Eve, he had that special relationship that he longed for that was perfect and unblemished. That is also why God created Eve for Adam. Because in the same way that God was lonely, he knew it would benefit Adam to have that special someone in his life.

Now, this part of every relationship is inevitable. We messed up! We fought God. This is where the need for God to be pursued came into play. God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. When you think about it and read between the lines, this is what God was saying: "Please, for the sake of our relationship, don't take of something that will part me from you! I want you too much!" When you read the bible, there are many scriptures that refer to God's need for us to love him. Matthew 22:37-38 says, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment." In Jeremiah 29:13 it says: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Just as so many of us desire relationships that are strong and true, God desires the same with us! I recently read in a really good book that a woman's strong desire for meaningful relationships are a testament to the desire and love that God has for us since we are created in the image of God. We always see God as a ruler and King and Father. It isn't common for people to see God as vulnerable, desperate, or in need. In this fallen world where every day brings hardship, we are a selfish people who understand that we need God. However, do we ever stop to think that God needs us just as much as we need him? Another of the commandments says that we shall have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3). I know that part of this is because he is the one true God. It's not just that though. God is jealous of anyone or anything that comes between Him and us! Any and every human knows what jealousy is! When you were young, it was jealousy over someone having a better toy than you. When you reached teenage years, it was jealousy over who was more popular that you. But I am a firm believer that there is no stronger jealousy than that of someone who is jealous of love. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 it talks about faith, hope, and love. But it makes it clear that the greatest is love. So when God sees that something or someone else is capturing our full attention, he gets jealous because he wants us to love him above all else. In 1 John 4:19 it says, We love because he first loved us. God is our first love. Imagine...if we hadn't fallen into sin, our only purpose would be loving God. We would still live in perfect harmony with God. God would have no reason to be jealous of us because we never would have known what idols were, or what it even meant to be jealous because God's love is perfect.

So if man is made in God's image and God stated that it is not good for man to be alone, what else is there to conclude that God doesn't want to be alone either. A perfect example to use in this case is Martha and Mary. God told Martha that Mary had the right idea. Mary was spending time with God. While I'm sure Martha's intentions were honorable, God was not concerned with place settings at the dining table or what type of meal he was going to eat. he simply wanted to spend time with them.

So here's your mission: The next you go to your "prayer closet" and are just spending time with God, take some time to just "listen." Ask him if there is anything that he might like to share with you. Understand that love is not a one-sided thing. God needs us to love him just as much as we need him to love us.

Revelation/Teaching: You're Part of Me

I was listening to a song by Barlow Girl called Never Alone. I was listening to it one day  because I was sort of feeling alone and was confused about a few things. This particular song always brings comfort to me when I feel that way. As I was listening to the song, one line really stuck out to me. It said: " We cannot separate. You're part of me." That day when I heard that line, God gave me an amazing revelation and another perspective on Him always being with us.

I watched an amazing video on YouTube by Kat Kerr called Revealing Heaven. In one segment of the video, Kat explains what the scripture, Psalm 138:13, is actually talking about. It says, For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. Kat stated that when God knit us together in our mother's womb, what was actually taking place was God attaching a piece of his spirit to us so we could live. The very first account of something like this happening is with Adam. Genesis 2:7 says: The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. The only difference in this case is that he was created as a man rather than starting off as a baby.

Now let's take this a step further and dig deeper. In the very first account of man being made, God said, "Let us make man in our image..." So He did. Genesis 1:27 says, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him. If you think about what is actually being said there, you understand that God isn't necessarily talking about physical image. There are so many names and descriptions of God in the Bible, but one scripture sums it up. In 1 John 4:16 it says that God is love. So if we were made in God's image, he gave us the capacity to be as much like him as "humanly" possible. Since God is love and we are created in the image of God, then we are created in the image of love.

Taking this even another step further... I want you to look at the scientific birthing process and apply a spiritual sense to it. When a baby is being formed in the womb, it is being formed from the DNA of the father and the mother. It is, however, the DNA of the father that determines the gender of the child. Since the fall of man, we are born into sin. So look at the father as God and the mother as sin. We are created in God's image so we take on his "DNA" which is love and the spiritual gifts he gives us. However, since we are born into sin and can't be perfect, we take on the "DNA" of sin. In science though, the male determines the child's gender. In this case, God determined that we would be set free of sin.

One last step... Regardless of whether a person walks with God or not, people are still made in God's image, so they still take on his "DNA." For example: a person's conscience. Even if a person doesn't walk with God, they are still capable of making good decisions. Let's say a person is caught in a situation of doing something wrong and they feel bad about it, so they decide to make things right. That's a sign of God in that person because God wants all people to do what's right. The same goes if a person wants to lend a helping hand by donating time to a charitable organization or buying a meal for a homeless person. God sent his son Jesus into the world to help the people in need.

Overall, God is always going to be with us and a part of us. So the next time you feel alone or you have questions for God about your position in life, just remember this line: "We cannot separate. You're part of me." In this case, literally! :)

Devotional: There Can Be Miracles- Part 2 of 2 of the "Miracles" Devotionals

Think back to the time before Jesus dies on the cross... Moses was able to perform signs and wonders with his staff because of God, Samson was given superhuman strength, Elijah was able to part the Jordan with his cloak, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all walked right out of a fiery furnace without being burned... Now think back to the time after Jesus ascended to heaven... Peter healed a cripple at the gate called Beautiful, Paul raised a young man named Eutychus from the dead...

I recently watched a movie called Joshua, and in the movie, Joshua healed a blind woman. When priest, Father Tordone, heard of this, he called Joshua a false prophet. What amazes me is that people nowadays believe that if a miracle is performed, it's wrong, or that it's not of God. Some people believe that miracles, signs and wonders, and gifts don't exist anymore. The question is: If God gave men and women the ability to perform miracles or give them gifts before and after the time of Jesus being here, why would people think it no longer applies to the current generations? The truth is that it does still apply! Mark 16:15-18 says, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” To each it may be different, but God gave no statute of limitations on how long these abilities would last. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 says, Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. See, when man was created, he was given dominion over the earth, and God being a gentleman would not take back a gift despite our fall into sin. Matthew 16:19 says, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Because man was given dominion over the earth, we are still able to bind and loose what is all ready bound and loosed in heaven. For example, there is no death in heaven, therefore we can speak life over people. There is no sickness in heaven therefore we can speak healing over people. There is no worry or sadness in heaven therefore we can speak peace over people which God promises to give his people... Psalm 85:8 says, I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people...

Miracles are still part of our lives today and will continue to be even in the last days. Acts 2:17-18 says, “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Sometimes all it takes is prayer and a little faith! Matthew 17:20... He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Devotional: Walking Resurrection/Part 1 of 2 of Miracle Devotionals

Without God's awesome download, never would I have understood this! This is so awesome!

Every morning we wake up. We do whatever needs to be done throughout the day. We lie down, go to sleep, and wake up the next morning doing it all over again. During our days and nights, we hear people talk of miracles, and they wish there were more of them. What we don't realize is that we are walking miracles! Everyday is a miracle and I will tell you why!

Nowadays, many Christians believe that miracles are a thing of the past, that once the apostles passed away the gifts that God gave left with them. For those who don't believe in miracles, may I say that you are a walking contradiction! :) 1 Corinthians 15:12-17 says, But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he has been raised from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins... So, if what this scripture says is true, they by all accounts I am a dead woman! 1 Corinthians 15:32 says, ...If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." In Romans 6:23 it states that "the wages of sin is death..." So every time I sin, I sentence myself to death. Now for the amazing part! When Jesus died on the cross, he died to resurrect us! He gave his life to save ours! When we sin, without hesitation or second thought, our lives are given back to us and we are resurrected! We live again! Romans 8:11 says, And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. What else is there to conclude but that we walk in resurrection power? Miracles still exist, which each one of us are evidence of. If we are resurrected from the dead every time we sin, imagine what other miracles can STILL happen through God today? 1 Corinthians 15:55... "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

Part 2 of the "Miracles" devotional will be posted tomorrow! God bless!

Devotional: Ability, Thy Name is Jesus Christ

I am human. What I am NOT is perfect. I have struggles with (insert issue here). But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul had struggles with feeling unworthy because of his past persecution of the church of God. Paul was one of the most influential apostles, yet was humble. Almost too humble. Many of us have struggles and, whether they be big or small, they effect how we as Christians walk the walk. My own personal struggle is the feeling of inadequacy, dumbing myself down and believing that I am not smart enough to share God's word. However, what many of us fail to realize is that it's not our own personal abilities that get us through. We are human and therefore are unable to share the message of God on our own due to living in sin. Paul talks about working harder than all his fellow apostles to share the message with others, yet he acknowledges that without God's grace and kindness, his hard work would have been fruitless. All this is not to say though that anyone is worthless. It's just saying to look at yourself through God's perspective and understand his work in you.

Now here comes the tricky part...finding balance. Romans 1:16 says, I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes... How do you get past your "shame" and share the word of God? Paul knew that regardless of his past, he was a new man in God, and sharing the word of God was too important to let shame or insecurities get in the way. He was making a bold statement that though he may be ashamed of his past, he's not ashamed of the word of God! So the answer is this: when you feel shame or feel those insecurities creep in, focus on God! It's says in the word, "I am the way, the truth, and the light." It also says in the book of Jeremiah 29:11 that God has a plan for us that will benefit us and not harm us. When you just focus on God and follow after him, you worry less about your own struggles. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, 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. Remember these two verses as well... 2 Corinthians 12:9, Jesus said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefor I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. Also, Philippians 4:13, I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. Keep sharing the word of God no matter what lies the devil tries to throw your way! I guarantee you won't regret it! 2 Timothy 4:17... The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed.

Devotional: It's Only Natural

Have you ever heard the expression, "Take time to stop and smell the roses?" There is a lot of wisdom in that expression, particularly since it pertains to taking time to notice the things around you. Romans 1:20 says, For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly see, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. When God made the world, he put every ounce of love into it. When you put love and care into the things you make, it shows. This is what God did with the world! He made His love and power so clear in his creations that no one could doubt there being a higher power. Psalm 104:1-30 says, Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth. He makes springs pour out water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate- bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. the trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has it home in the pine trees. the high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the coneys. The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. your bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. the sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening. How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. there is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.

Now what does this have to do with "smelling the roses?" One, when we get caught up in the business of our won lives, it gets harder and harder to see God in the things around us. This is one of the reasons why God wants us to be, what is referred to in Romans 12, living sacrifices. When we give up the things that seem more important to us, it makes it easier to see what has been right in front of us all along. Two, when we take time to appreciate the works of God, it gives us a more positive outlook on life. The most important example being with people. Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus... We are God's masterpiece, the crown jewels of all his creations. Somehow though, it's easier to see God's love in a rainbow or the stars rather than a person, particularly if this person isn't easy to get along with. So, when you take time to see the beauty of God in people, no matter how bad they may seem.

Now I know that the beginning scripture, Romans 1:20, is talking about God making himself so known through his creations, that no one could say that they don't know who God is. However, if we ourselves could just take the time to see and appreciate God and his love around us, it would help us to learn to look deeper in people. By learning to seek out God's love in a person, and trying to see why God made that person that way, you become that beautiful creation to that other person. They see God in you, and it could help turn that person around for the better. So take time to see God in not only the things around you, but also in others. It will bring you closer to God and also help you be a light to others. Psalm 8:3-5... When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower that the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.