eDevotional

Jesus- Who Was, Is, and Is Coming
06/29/09

In life, we at some point, ask the question, “Do I have a future? What is God’
s plan for my life? Everything seems to be broken and my dreams are gone.
Does God still have something for me?” The answer to these questions is,
“Yes!” Regardless of your circumstances as a follower of Jesus, God is at
work declaring and ordering your steps. He’s working in your home, in your
family, in your career, and in your future.

We need to be in a relationship first with Jesus, our family, and then with
whomever God brings before you. If we only had a limited number of days
to live, would you live them large or would you just die hard? If we live
large…is it bold and passionate following the word of God? We tend to end
our life before it is over because we lose our passion. We think we have
done all that there is to do. God promises to lead us, to hold onto us, and to
never ever let us go. In every part and every aspect of our lives, he is
planning and he is ordering our steps. We have his word on it! God calls us
to be more than just bold about His gift, but passionate about life. Just as in
today’s society, so many people who have a passion for their cause are
making changes. Unfortunately, many of those changes are not of God. We
as Christians need to have more passion for Christ, instead of allowing this
country to become even more stagnant! See, we are on a limited number of
days in each of our lives. We could die today or fifty years from now…it is
how you live that matters. Secure your needs with a passionate lifestyle in
Jesus, in prayer, and in living with faith in God’s promise. When you find
the confidence in God’s passion for your life you’ll find He is on guard and
protecting you!

When we give God control of our lives and delight ourselves in His word
and His love, he is right there guiding us. He is guarding us every step of
the way on life’s journey. Because He is the one who was, is, and is to come.

The Rock Solid Father

In today’s culture we are families that have been broken, separated, and
drowning in doubt. I know these are tough times to be a parent; single or
together it is tough. From a spiritual perspective, your home and family are
where you must take your stand against the fires of hell and the winds of
culture. By God’s grace and power, dads or those in the roll of dad, can
create a spiritual place of protection to keep the storms of life from
destroying your family.

The Bible is filled with examples of those who did not know or felt like
they deserved to be a father. Abraham, King David, and Joseph to name a
few had trying times in having, raising, and accepting the blessing of a God
given family. Abraham was promised to be the father of nations, yet still
took things into his own hand. King David had his son’s fighting over who
should be in charge, and Joseph was given a son who he did not create, but
was given from the Holy Spirit. They all allowed God to create a spiritual
place to protect and raise their family. When we do go through trails it is
part of His master plan for the refinement of our faith. God allows us to be
put into the furnace to burn off the pride, the anger, the conceit, the lust,
the prejudice, or whatever impurity may be present in our lives. In the end,
a refined faith is the treasure of our trials and a stronger family. Through
the refining process, you and I discover just how real our faith is, and so do
those around us.

What does a father look like?

F- forgiving
a-     awesome

t-   talented

h- heroic

e- energetic

r- reliable

If you or your family cans identify any of these characters in you as a mom
or dad you following the Rock solid father.

To be a strong father we must focus on THE FATHER to guide us…I know
some of us are moms living the fathers roll because of a weak man…so I ask
you to pray for help in creating a spiritual place of blessing and protection
for you and your family, and you’ll focus on the ONE WHO IS THE ROCK.

Living Life Large...Jude 1:20-23,

The Steps of Faith

So often in life, we’re unwilling to take any risks. The things that might take
us out of our comfort zone are the things we fight the most. There is nothing
as chilling as taking that first step out in an uncomfortable zone in faith. Yet
at the same time, there’s nothing quite as exciting as the first step in faith
and putting your hope in the Jesus, who will guide your steps…Believing in
Jesus, are steps of faith.

As we seek to pass on the faith to our children, our friends, and all those
that watch our steps of faith, we must remember Paul's example. He taught
the truth of faith then passed on the truth of faith that had been revealed
and passed on to him. He displayed the truth in his life.   Paul then called
on the people he was mentoring to put faith into practice in their lives. This
would enable them to fully experience the presence of God in their lives
and find the peace that God so longs to give them. If you sense that God is
urging you to take that first step of faith, I would say, “Just do it!” It may
feel uncertain, but through Jesus, your future is secure. Your course is set.
God may be just waiting on you so you can start living life in Him in order
for the rest of your life can begin. So look at your trust in God’s care, and
know He has made you qualified and taking that first step of faith. By
doing so shows you trust and have faith in His plan for you.

Will it be scary? Yes! Will it be exciting? Totally! He said all it takes is the
faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain. Just be in prayer that God will
give you the courage to take the steps of faith to see the mountains move in
your life today. Your steps will allow you to be a better teacher of the word
and to influence those around you through your walk with Jesus.

Living Life Large...Jude 1:20-23,

How to Find Peace of the Spirit

Jesus was the only one who experienced peace in the middle of a raging
sea. He was the only one who was calm, cool, and collected when there was
a shortage of food to feed the multitude. He was the one who was at peace
and in total control through His own arrest, trial, and execution. Which
means we are all promised peace as our inheritance as Christ-followers
because of His example. The question is; why are so many Christians not
experiencing peace in their daily lives? How can we find peace of the mind
and specially the spirit?

It’s because we’re looking to the wrong things to give us peace. So many of
us are searching for peace and turn to things that are unfulfilling. Only
Jesus can give true, lasting peace and finding Him will reveal the journey
of a calling. We must let peace rule in our hearts before we can know His
peace. That peace comes from a desire, passion, and love in following Jesus.
We must know who we are called to serve, the question is who? The “who”
comes from a people or a region and is a call. We must recognize what fires
up our hearts and in the same way we must know what makes us take on the
world. Our peace is taken away many times because of the sadness that
grips us without an answer. That painful experience you lived through may
just be the first steps to finding peace. Like all things made by God, He
prepares us during seasons of chaos and peace. To succeed we must make
seeking God an obsession and through our passion and desire for Him we
surrender everything and find peace. Jesus exhibited complete and total
peace during even the most stressful and extreme of circumstances, how
could we look anywhere else for peace but in Him? We must let the Jesus
be the peace in our hearts and understand the power of peace.

The actions of Jesus are our road map, but we must first follow Him. Jesus is
going to lead you to your calling and that calling requires peace to be a
part of the heart. He must increase in your life and you must decrease to
truly find peace. You must know your people, have a love, overcome pain of
the past, allow for preparation, and be obsessed with loving Jesus.

Living Life Large...