Thursday the 12th

Galatians 2: 6

 

⁶As for those who seemed to be important—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance—those men added nothing to my message.

 

Have you ever got a piece of tape stuck to the bottom of your shoe? You don’t notice it at first, then you look down and you have picked up all kinds of trash! Well our lives are just like that! We have to pay attention to what we pick up along the way! Just like Paul says here, we also need to make sure that what we pick up adds to our message, not takes away. People will always come in to your life that want to contribute something….we all have something to give….We have to be on guard for what we take and what we leave. Paul makes a good pint here about external appearances, don’t be fooled by them. They might have flash they might have a great pedigree, they might have a lot of people lined up behind them touting their achievements. Remember it is not the outside that counts. All of the education in the world is not needed by the person who is called by Christ to profess the word, the same can be said for money, social status and the like. It might make him a better speaker, it might look good hanging on the wall, people might like him, or he might have money to burn,  but the Lord speaks through your heart, not through your external possessions. Just the same the person who has all of those things, but preaches out of self-interest, or uses the Word of God for personal gain…..well all of those external things will not help them when it counts. The Lord sees us from the inside out, so clothe yourself accordingly, dress your soul in the Lord, make your heart a beautifully decorated temple for the Lord, don’t worry to much about the outside, the clothes do not make the man, the heart does!

 

Peace,

Brian

You are better than that

Colossians 3:5

 

⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

 

We know that we are at our best when we are walking with, or after the Lord, yet there always seems to be something trying to drag us down. As if an unexplainable force is holding a string, pulling you backwards. You can call it what you want, habit, desire, the devil….You have to identify that problem and cut it loose. I know all to well that is easier said than done, however it is something that must be dealt with. Not because it is “bad” or sinful, not because someone is looking over your shoulder and telling you that you have to change….do it because you know that you are better than that…..whatever it is that is dragging on you, you are better than that problem. You are no longer the same person you were, and that means that you have to not just let go of things, but you have to start to see yourself for what you are. A brother or sister of Christ, you are a new life! A life that searches for hope, and faith, not despair, and pain. In our old lives we lived for pain…..I know that might not sound quite right, or might not be the way some see it, but if you look at your life before Christ entered it, you will see that the things you were chasing brought more pain, and disappointment, than it brought happiness. Maybe you are still lost in your chase, content to chase the things of this temporary world that will surely fall away, and leave you empty at some point. Maybe you have allowed the Lord into your life, but you are still chasing after empty dreams……take a long look at where you are at….are you happy? Do you feel complete, do you feel whole?  Look for the things in your life that are causing you pain, be honest with yourself, is the chase for the new car, or the next one night stand, going to give you the feeling of love that you are looking for? Will your chase for money ever have a finish line? I can promise you, at the end of the day, or the next morning when you wake up, that same haunting feeling will still fill your soul. Reach out to the Lord, and start cutting away your earthly nature, you are better than that. Let Christ in….allow him to be your foundation, you will feel what complete acceptance, and love really is. When you build on a foundation of the Lord, you house will stand any storm. You will find that the race for worldly things is a race that cannot be won, but with Christ all things are possible.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

Wed the 1th

Galatians: 1: 16-17

 

¹⁶to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, ¹⁷nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

 

Folks, we do not live for the approval of anyone other than the Lord. That is a bold statement, but a trustworthy saying none the less. When we are called to do something for the Lord, we do not need group consensus, or group therapy. We do not need the advice, or approval of anyone. Many will not understand your actions, many might think less of you because you have “left the heard” , but know this one cold hard truth…….the Lord is our light, our strength, our rock, and our way. If you want to know where you are going, then ask the Lord, not the guy sitting next to you. There are people here in this world that will do everything they can to drag you down, they will do it with a smile on their face, and a song on their lips. You answer to the Lord. He is the authority, and it is His plan that matters in your life. Don’t let the world drag you down, don’t listen to the people who would tell you that you can’t or you shouldn’t. We have to live in this world, but we do not have to be “of” it. The Lord will speak to your heart, follow it where He leads. Live with your heart, love with your heart, and fight with your heart. There is great risk, but much greater reward!

 

Peace,

Brian

Give yourself permission

Colossians 2: 20

 

²⁰Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules

 

Many today call themselves Christian, yet try to apply all of the rules of society on to the faith. Christ does not need an earthly jury, the rules that have been written by men to control other men do not apply. Christ has given each of us a new life, and a new set of instructions. Directions that include, love, compassion, faith, grace…..when you strive to reach those laws you find that you do not have to worry about falling below the laws of man. The laws of this world save you from sin, the laws of the Lord, save you from death, and grant eternal life. Break yourself free form the world, and all of it’s chains. Refuse to accept the viewpoint of the world that you have a place, and you have to stay in that little box. We all belong with the Lord, Children of God, and brothers, and sisters of Christ. The path to get there will be easy to see, it will have the footprints of Christ already laid down for us to follow. Give yourself permission to become what you were intended, a child of Light, then let that light shine for all to see. God blessed you before you were born, all that is holding you back is you.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

 

Tuesday the 10th

2 Corinthians 13:14

 

¹⁴May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

 

What else could you ask for in life? Grace, love and fellowship. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That is a full complete life. If you have those three things, there is nothing else that you could need. You have what you need and everything else is secondary. Don’t let the world convince you any differently. Do you feel like you don’t have Grace, love, and fellowship, I would almost promise you that it is because you are missing one, if not a couple of them in your life. Many might find it hard to believe that life can be that good, just by counting on those three things, but it can. The struggle is to set down the things you have been convinced you need more. Turn off the TV, the computers, the radio, set the cell phones down, and let yourself spend some time with the Lord. He is there, he is waiting. Let the Lord take a hold of your heart, and your life. Honestly give yourself to him. There you will find the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. We are all works in progress, don’t let the noise of today slow down the construction site.

 

Peace,

Brian

all the same

Colossians 2: 16-17

 

¹⁶Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

 

 

Many Churches, and more to the point, many church members have done a great job at excluding people, not because of Christ’s teachings, but because of the traditions of Men. Reality is found in Christ, not in other men! We judge many things in life using our own life as a measuring stick. Do not let that worldly view spill over into your spiritual life. There is but one truth, and that is Christ. He has laid out the truth for all to see, yet many will try to “tweak” it for their own ends. Know that you are a child of God, you are not bound by earthly judgment. Do not let others look down on you because of trivial matters that have nothing to do with your relationship with Christ. In the end it is that relationship that will decide your fate. Do not judge others for actions that the Lord does not judge. When you do, you will have to answer for that judgment. Who are we sinners to hold judgment out to others, are we all not sinners? There is room for improvement in all of our lives. The sinner, and the saint, all start at the same place; no matter your current position, do not forget that our goal is compassion, and love. Not exclusion, and hate. Let your heart be filled with Love, when you live your life with love as the goal, you will find the peace, and joy, that comes when you walk with the Lord.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

Monday the 9th

2 Corinthians 13:5

 

⁵Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—

 

Did you know that the best way to find out if your are on the right path is found right inside of you? You can compare yourselves to others, you can read as many self help books as you can find, but you will never find a more clear, perfect understanding of where you are at, and where you need to be, than when you examine yourself. No one knows you better than the Lord, and he will provide you with the insight needed to stay, or get back on the right track. Open your hearts, and bend a knee, if you come to the Lord with the intention of testing yourself, he will guide you. He will provide more depth, understanding, compassion, love, and grace, than any of us deserve. Oprah, Tom Cruise, Madonna, and all of their spiritual advisers are chasing after your wallet not you soul. You will never find another person in this world who will be as open and honest with you…..as you! Turn to the one that helps, turn to the One that will give eternal life, turn to the one true god……With Him you will find the answers to the test, with Him, you will find salvation.

 

Peace,

Brian