Read:
Philippians 1:6
“…Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
Sometimes it is hard to go through life let alone write out what is going on… Honesty is now, my best friend. For so long I hid from it, people didn’t like honesty, well my honesty, they didn’t except my truths or beliefs, I was always wrong! My no wasn’t good enough, unless it was disguised as a yes… This is what I believed, until this morning, when it all hit the fan…
God has been doing a mighty work in me and I realized that me saying yes, when I really want to say no is dishonesty and it isn’t fair for anyone.
I give too much, self-sacrificially, instead of, obediently, God’s intended way of giving. (Obedience is better than sacrifice 1Sam15:22)
I almost gave my self “to death:—with every false yes, I intended to be agreeable, when I truly was denying myself the right to say NO! I began to fade away, to make up for my total disregard for myself, I began to talk about those people, I was angry with them, “How dare they ask me…” This is how I coped—in reality it was my fault, I could have said no; I had no one to blame, but myself.
I feel so free like I can sprint a thousand miles and still have energy… In the back of my mind, I ask, “Why’d it take so long?” But with that question, I realize this happened just in time. I am reminded like every second of each day that this is a progressive work, God is working it out and I didn’t get like this overnight and I surely am not going to be alright in a day!
Comment by Keith Edwards:
In our Christian walk we will find that God is refining us and bringing us to a place to produce more fruit. It is a progressive growth, and one that takes discipline and humbleness before the Lord. One thing that God will develop in us is a need for honesty. We can't be driven by the direction of how everyone around us thinks we should go, but rather driven by the Holy Spirit. I want to encourage us today to be honest, and step out on a limb to obey God in not just some areas, but every area.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you help us to be driven by Your Spirit. Help us to be honest with all those around us, and if the need arises to even be confrontational to help others in their walk with you, Amen.
by Shona Marie & Keith Edwards
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Can't Figure It Out? June 25th Devotional
Read:
Job 38:4
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Have you ever met someone who tried to prove there point concerning different theological issues of Christianity? They are so convinced that this scripture says what it says and that settles it. Now scripture is plain about biblical foundational scriptures concerning repentance, resurrection, and the blood of Jesus. The teaching of the work of the cross is set as foundation and shouldn't ever be changed or twisted. I'm talking about things like predestination, when the rapture is going to take place, etc. Then we have the questions about baptism. some say this way, and some say that way, and some say it's got to be this way. There was a story of a church service having a baptism at an ole' river. A drunk man came walking down the road and the Pastor asked him, "Do you want to find Jesus?" The old man said, " sure, I'd like to find Jesus. They ducked him under water and pulled him up. They said, "Did you find Jesus?" The old man said, no! They did it another time and asked him if he found Jesus yet? No! the old man replied. They ducked him under the water the third time with a little exhaustion and asked him, "Now did you find Jesus?" The old man looked up at the Pastor with a few hiccups and said, "Are you sure He's down there?" This story is a little funny, but how many times have you heard of people telling you that they have been baptized, dedicated, etc. and they never truly repented of their sins. There is no proof of their conversion. It's as if they have figured God out and they need nothing else but what the sacraments or the things that we are commanded to do "because" of the salvation that we have already received. Then there is the group of Christians that have been truly born again and the sacrament, the things of God, or even theological issues almost become their God. We have different theologians who can prove their point. We are very gracious to have great theologians all throughout history and today, but there are some things about God we probably won't be able to figure out until we meet Him face to face. There is a theological word of God being above and beyond us, but another theological word is God being within. Thank God we not only have God above and beyond us but we have the very life of God within us. There are alot of things about God that we may never be able to understand in this life, and it is just pride for someone to take scripture and butcher it to there own belief of what "they" think is right. This theologian here says that the rapture will take place during the tribulation, this theologian over here says that the rapture will take place before the tribulation, and on and on it goes. I believe...just kidding! Some try to figure God out to where it totally saturates there whole life. Are you facing some questions about God today? Are you beating yourself over the head about some theological issues that your not for sure about apart from biblical foundations and this is taking over your whole life. I promise you that if God really wants to reveal something to us He will do it. Let's just go on with what has already been imparted to us, and lets go forth in what God commanded us to do, and lets bind together in unity and love of Christ Jesus. There's nothing wrong with having a theological discussion as long as fists aren't thrown, but the main focus for us as the body of Christ is the great commission that Jesus gave us. The blood of Jesus is a cut to the chase message. You can't twist scripture to make it say something else. Thank God for His blood. I want to encourage you today to not try and figure "everything" out to where your devotion goes down the tube, your worship with believers goes down the tube, and your joy goes down the tube. In Job here we see that he retains his integrity as God is letting him know that it is He who created the world, it is He who created the ocean, and it is He who laid the very foundation of the world that we are walking on today.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you help us not to try and figure you out in the wrong way. Sometimes Lord we try and put you under a microscope to see if what we really believe is real. Lord we know that you are real because of you changing our hearts and becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus by faith. We thank you Lord that we take our spiritual journey one step at a time, and when you want to reveal a little extra something about yourself it will come to pass. Sometimes though Lord you say, "Thus far and no further!" You hold us in the palm of your hand as Daddy God and teach us things one step at a time. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Job 38:4
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Have you ever met someone who tried to prove there point concerning different theological issues of Christianity? They are so convinced that this scripture says what it says and that settles it. Now scripture is plain about biblical foundational scriptures concerning repentance, resurrection, and the blood of Jesus. The teaching of the work of the cross is set as foundation and shouldn't ever be changed or twisted. I'm talking about things like predestination, when the rapture is going to take place, etc. Then we have the questions about baptism. some say this way, and some say that way, and some say it's got to be this way. There was a story of a church service having a baptism at an ole' river. A drunk man came walking down the road and the Pastor asked him, "Do you want to find Jesus?" The old man said, " sure, I'd like to find Jesus. They ducked him under water and pulled him up. They said, "Did you find Jesus?" The old man said, no! They did it another time and asked him if he found Jesus yet? No! the old man replied. They ducked him under the water the third time with a little exhaustion and asked him, "Now did you find Jesus?" The old man looked up at the Pastor with a few hiccups and said, "Are you sure He's down there?" This story is a little funny, but how many times have you heard of people telling you that they have been baptized, dedicated, etc. and they never truly repented of their sins. There is no proof of their conversion. It's as if they have figured God out and they need nothing else but what the sacraments or the things that we are commanded to do "because" of the salvation that we have already received. Then there is the group of Christians that have been truly born again and the sacrament, the things of God, or even theological issues almost become their God. We have different theologians who can prove their point. We are very gracious to have great theologians all throughout history and today, but there are some things about God we probably won't be able to figure out until we meet Him face to face. There is a theological word of God being above and beyond us, but another theological word is God being within. Thank God we not only have God above and beyond us but we have the very life of God within us. There are alot of things about God that we may never be able to understand in this life, and it is just pride for someone to take scripture and butcher it to there own belief of what "they" think is right. This theologian here says that the rapture will take place during the tribulation, this theologian over here says that the rapture will take place before the tribulation, and on and on it goes. I believe...just kidding! Some try to figure God out to where it totally saturates there whole life. Are you facing some questions about God today? Are you beating yourself over the head about some theological issues that your not for sure about apart from biblical foundations and this is taking over your whole life. I promise you that if God really wants to reveal something to us He will do it. Let's just go on with what has already been imparted to us, and lets go forth in what God commanded us to do, and lets bind together in unity and love of Christ Jesus. There's nothing wrong with having a theological discussion as long as fists aren't thrown, but the main focus for us as the body of Christ is the great commission that Jesus gave us. The blood of Jesus is a cut to the chase message. You can't twist scripture to make it say something else. Thank God for His blood. I want to encourage you today to not try and figure "everything" out to where your devotion goes down the tube, your worship with believers goes down the tube, and your joy goes down the tube. In Job here we see that he retains his integrity as God is letting him know that it is He who created the world, it is He who created the ocean, and it is He who laid the very foundation of the world that we are walking on today.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you help us not to try and figure you out in the wrong way. Sometimes Lord we try and put you under a microscope to see if what we really believe is real. Lord we know that you are real because of you changing our hearts and becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus by faith. We thank you Lord that we take our spiritual journey one step at a time, and when you want to reveal a little extra something about yourself it will come to pass. Sometimes though Lord you say, "Thus far and no further!" You hold us in the palm of your hand as Daddy God and teach us things one step at a time. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Thursday, June 24, 2010
To Hear His Heartbeat June 24th Devotional
Read:
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times as they were sitting there? If you can remember, Peter denied Jesus three times, and Jesus asked him, " Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was cut to the heart. There has to be a cutting for a healing and revelation to take place. I know in my own life that when God is dealing with me about a certain area, I feel that spiritual cutting before the healing. It's a healthy fear of God that brings such a pure and loving relationship with Him. We are not to fear God as believers concerning the wrath of God because that was taken care of on the cross. But we are to have a healthy fear of God. This generation has no fear of God today, and it's a shame for us as Christians. One thing I want us to see here in John chapter 21 is that Jesus didn't leave Peter there hurting. Peter had to have a revelation before ministry could begin as an apostle of Christ. I can remember having my devotional worship with the Lord and I felt the Holy Spirit say, "Put your guitar down for a moment!" I felt like the Lord asked me the same thing that He will ask every Christian believer at one point in their walk with the Lord. Do you love me son?" Do you love me more than my power?" I said yes Lord, I love you more than your sovereign power. Do you love me more than the things that I give you?" Yes Lord, I love you more than the things that you give. Do you love me more than your own family?" I hesitated for a moment, then I said, "Yes Lord, I love you more than my family. There was a cutting there that made me want God more than anything. More than the music, more than teaching, more than anything. But I need to let you in on a secret that will help you and I along our journey as true Christians. We need to always stay in check on this particular thing everyday. I know of many unbelievable ministers who lost their first love in the middle of ministry. It can happen, and that's why it is so important to have a healthy repentance everyday in our walk with Him. I'm not talking about the forgive forgive forgive me thing that brings forth condemnation instead of true heart repentance. I talking about sitting at Jesus feet in our daily devotion and learning His ways. He will show us His ways when our heart is truly towards Him. I really meant it that day, and it was a revelation to sit at Jesus' feet daily and to hear His heartbeat. Let me ask you today! Do you love Jesus more than the things that He has blessed you with?" Do you love Him more than ministry?" I know it is painful, but oh the healing and revelation that it brings to advance the Kingdom of God as believers, to make disciples, and to let God's righteousness ring across the whole earth. The last thing that I want us to understand is that we need to understand the importance of feeding the sheep as minister's. We are "all" called to advance God's kingdom, whether it is in our workplace, ministry, or wherever we are at, we are called to advance God's kingdom. We should all be making disciples. The pastor's and those called in the church as leaders are to equip all believers to go out and do the works of Christ. This is the revelation that every Pastor should have before He opens up that front door of His church. The revelation of how God builds, how He thinks, and the very rock of revelation of what the church should be doing to carry on the great commission.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you would help us to hear your heartbeat in this generation. We ask that you touch us by your spirit, and that you would lead us in the way we should go. Let us hear you heart in you precious name. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times as they were sitting there? If you can remember, Peter denied Jesus three times, and Jesus asked him, " Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was cut to the heart. There has to be a cutting for a healing and revelation to take place. I know in my own life that when God is dealing with me about a certain area, I feel that spiritual cutting before the healing. It's a healthy fear of God that brings such a pure and loving relationship with Him. We are not to fear God as believers concerning the wrath of God because that was taken care of on the cross. But we are to have a healthy fear of God. This generation has no fear of God today, and it's a shame for us as Christians. One thing I want us to see here in John chapter 21 is that Jesus didn't leave Peter there hurting. Peter had to have a revelation before ministry could begin as an apostle of Christ. I can remember having my devotional worship with the Lord and I felt the Holy Spirit say, "Put your guitar down for a moment!" I felt like the Lord asked me the same thing that He will ask every Christian believer at one point in their walk with the Lord. Do you love me son?" Do you love me more than my power?" I said yes Lord, I love you more than your sovereign power. Do you love me more than the things that I give you?" Yes Lord, I love you more than the things that you give. Do you love me more than your own family?" I hesitated for a moment, then I said, "Yes Lord, I love you more than my family. There was a cutting there that made me want God more than anything. More than the music, more than teaching, more than anything. But I need to let you in on a secret that will help you and I along our journey as true Christians. We need to always stay in check on this particular thing everyday. I know of many unbelievable ministers who lost their first love in the middle of ministry. It can happen, and that's why it is so important to have a healthy repentance everyday in our walk with Him. I'm not talking about the forgive forgive forgive me thing that brings forth condemnation instead of true heart repentance. I talking about sitting at Jesus feet in our daily devotion and learning His ways. He will show us His ways when our heart is truly towards Him. I really meant it that day, and it was a revelation to sit at Jesus' feet daily and to hear His heartbeat. Let me ask you today! Do you love Jesus more than the things that He has blessed you with?" Do you love Him more than ministry?" I know it is painful, but oh the healing and revelation that it brings to advance the Kingdom of God as believers, to make disciples, and to let God's righteousness ring across the whole earth. The last thing that I want us to understand is that we need to understand the importance of feeding the sheep as minister's. We are "all" called to advance God's kingdom, whether it is in our workplace, ministry, or wherever we are at, we are called to advance God's kingdom. We should all be making disciples. The pastor's and those called in the church as leaders are to equip all believers to go out and do the works of Christ. This is the revelation that every Pastor should have before He opens up that front door of His church. The revelation of how God builds, how He thinks, and the very rock of revelation of what the church should be doing to carry on the great commission.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you would help us to hear your heartbeat in this generation. We ask that you touch us by your spirit, and that you would lead us in the way we should go. Let us hear you heart in you precious name. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
You Can't Plant A Key In The GrassJune 23rd Devotional
Read:
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever
Also:
52"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
One day I was thinking about seeds and how you plant different things to get a harvest. I thought about how if you plant a key in the grass it wouldn't grow there, but if you use a key to unlock a door, you would be able to get to your destination by opening the door that was locked. You can't plant a key in the grass because it will not grow there, and in verse twenty-four of 1st Peter we see that all men are like grass, and all there glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever. The flesh of man or woman is as grass that fades away, and the key is Christ Jesus. You can't plant the things of Christ in the flesh because God is not of flesh, but you can plant the word of God in your spirit where God communicates with us. All of the things that we plant in our flesh is going to fade away as well. The lawyers in Luke 11:52 didn't have a heart for God on the inside of them. Jesus was rebuking them here about them having their outward looking good, but their inward heart was rotten. Jesus was saying that they were hindering those who were trying to enter in to the things of God. The key is Christ and the Lord will unlock the things that have been planted within us by the new born again conversion. One thing that I want us to see today as we go on with our Christian walk is that we have a seed within us that is "incorruptible" and it cannot fade away, but we have to let God water that seed by our worship, prayer, and devotion. God will begin to unlock the fruit of the spirit, the revelation of making disciples, and the course we need to take to fulfill our destiny here on earth.
Prayer:
Lord we thank you for that incorruptible seed that does not fade away. We ask that you help us to have a healthy fear for you in our Christian walk, and to understand your love for us as son's and daughters. We thank you Lord that our spirit is eternal and we can let you water that great seed by us submitting to you each and everyday. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever
Also:
52"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
One day I was thinking about seeds and how you plant different things to get a harvest. I thought about how if you plant a key in the grass it wouldn't grow there, but if you use a key to unlock a door, you would be able to get to your destination by opening the door that was locked. You can't plant a key in the grass because it will not grow there, and in verse twenty-four of 1st Peter we see that all men are like grass, and all there glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever. The flesh of man or woman is as grass that fades away, and the key is Christ Jesus. You can't plant the things of Christ in the flesh because God is not of flesh, but you can plant the word of God in your spirit where God communicates with us. All of the things that we plant in our flesh is going to fade away as well. The lawyers in Luke 11:52 didn't have a heart for God on the inside of them. Jesus was rebuking them here about them having their outward looking good, but their inward heart was rotten. Jesus was saying that they were hindering those who were trying to enter in to the things of God. The key is Christ and the Lord will unlock the things that have been planted within us by the new born again conversion. One thing that I want us to see today as we go on with our Christian walk is that we have a seed within us that is "incorruptible" and it cannot fade away, but we have to let God water that seed by our worship, prayer, and devotion. God will begin to unlock the fruit of the spirit, the revelation of making disciples, and the course we need to take to fulfill our destiny here on earth.
Prayer:
Lord we thank you for that incorruptible seed that does not fade away. We ask that you help us to have a healthy fear for you in our Christian walk, and to understand your love for us as son's and daughters. We thank you Lord that our spirit is eternal and we can let you water that great seed by us submitting to you each and everyday. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Despise Not Small Beginnings June22nd Devotional
Read:
Zechariah 4:6
6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
Have you ever walked your Christian walk by yourself? You get frustrated because maybe your dream or vision hasn't come to pass, and you even try and fulfill your calling by yourself. We can see here in Zechariah that God was speaking to Him to tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Jerusalem, that it is God that will cause the temple to be reconstructed with the help of Zerubbabel. The angel in the vision also tells Zechariah to tell Zerubbabel in chapter ten that He saw a plumb line in His hand for the building of the temple. God gave Zechariah this vision because they had gotten discouraged and complacent in the rebuilding of the temple. There was a great delay of the temple, and many were concerned with just there own life. God is much concerned with our spiritual growth through us as His concern for His power upon us. I see you today with a tool in your hand to start building again. I see you as great in God's eyes and see your work that you have already accomplished in your Christian walk relevant and not in vain. But friend there is more to do. You may be at a place in your life in some area where it is maybe small. It may have been something that you had started in your life, and there has been a great delay with this particular thing. Don't Despise small beginnings. Allow God to do a great work in you today, and allow God to touch your heart and life as you begin to build again your dreams and visions.
prayer:
Lord we pray that you will help us today with trusting totally in you. We ask that you will help us by your grace to work through us in a mighty way today. We need your spirit Lord to blow upon situations and circumstances in our life. Lord we allow you spirit to breathe upon our visions and dreams again, Amem.
by Keith Edwards
Zechariah 4:6
6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
Have you ever walked your Christian walk by yourself? You get frustrated because maybe your dream or vision hasn't come to pass, and you even try and fulfill your calling by yourself. We can see here in Zechariah that God was speaking to Him to tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Jerusalem, that it is God that will cause the temple to be reconstructed with the help of Zerubbabel. The angel in the vision also tells Zechariah to tell Zerubbabel in chapter ten that He saw a plumb line in His hand for the building of the temple. God gave Zechariah this vision because they had gotten discouraged and complacent in the rebuilding of the temple. There was a great delay of the temple, and many were concerned with just there own life. God is much concerned with our spiritual growth through us as His concern for His power upon us. I see you today with a tool in your hand to start building again. I see you as great in God's eyes and see your work that you have already accomplished in your Christian walk relevant and not in vain. But friend there is more to do. You may be at a place in your life in some area where it is maybe small. It may have been something that you had started in your life, and there has been a great delay with this particular thing. Don't Despise small beginnings. Allow God to do a great work in you today, and allow God to touch your heart and life as you begin to build again your dreams and visions.
prayer:
Lord we pray that you will help us today with trusting totally in you. We ask that you will help us by your grace to work through us in a mighty way today. We need your spirit Lord to blow upon situations and circumstances in our life. Lord we allow you spirit to breathe upon our visions and dreams again, Amem.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, June 21, 2010
June 21st Devotional
Read:
Psalms 42:1
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God
Also Read:
14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
Life can be so hard at times. Things can change in an instant, and if we don't have the foundation of Christ placed firmly in our soul, we will surely give up and possibly take our last breath here on earth. In psalms 42, David is running for his life. He has made some wrong choices while he was King in his palace, yet he found God's grace even under the law. David many times fell on his face before the Lord and pleaded for mercy, especially when Prophet Nathan came to him and spoke a hard word from the Lord to Him. David fell on his face before the Lord. Nathan told him that God is going to spare your life but that he will go through some things because of his sin. Here David is tired, weary, and he is thirsty for nothing but God. He says he is like a deer panting by a water brook. The story of a deer is interesting. The deer will run from the hounds, submerge itself under a river, and go as long as it can until it reaches a certain destination point. Then, by the time it reaches a water brook, it will pant from unbelievable thirst while it drinks of the brook. The we read in John chapter four that God is our living water that we can drink from. There have been times when I can remember being by a spiritual water brook in my life from some wrong choices that I had made, and wanting nothing but a drink of the presence of God, wanting nothing but God's mercy and forgiveness by His blood. It may not necessarily be because of sin in our past that we find ourselves in a state of unbelievable thirst. When are heart is pure before the Lord, God will prune us and make us more like Him. When we seek His face we will find ourselves crying out to him as He sharpens us and clips things from His spiritual branches to be one with the vine. I feel like God is bringing the body of Christ to a place of oneness with Him like never before. God is breathing His holiness and alignment upon His body to get the mixture out, and things that are in need of filtering will bring forth that feeling of needing God more than anything. Are you facing that thirst in a certain area, and need a drink of His living waters today? Just reach out to Him and He will be there for you.
Prayer:
Lord we come to that living water today for a drink of that everlasting water that gives us that assurance of eternity. We put all of our mistakes and failures under your blood and give you all today. Lord you are the only one who can feel that void that we feel, and you are the only one who can give us that drink that we need in our life. Help us Lord to stop and evaluate our life as we drink of your presence. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Psalms 42:1
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God
Also Read:
14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
Life can be so hard at times. Things can change in an instant, and if we don't have the foundation of Christ placed firmly in our soul, we will surely give up and possibly take our last breath here on earth. In psalms 42, David is running for his life. He has made some wrong choices while he was King in his palace, yet he found God's grace even under the law. David many times fell on his face before the Lord and pleaded for mercy, especially when Prophet Nathan came to him and spoke a hard word from the Lord to Him. David fell on his face before the Lord. Nathan told him that God is going to spare your life but that he will go through some things because of his sin. Here David is tired, weary, and he is thirsty for nothing but God. He says he is like a deer panting by a water brook. The story of a deer is interesting. The deer will run from the hounds, submerge itself under a river, and go as long as it can until it reaches a certain destination point. Then, by the time it reaches a water brook, it will pant from unbelievable thirst while it drinks of the brook. The we read in John chapter four that God is our living water that we can drink from. There have been times when I can remember being by a spiritual water brook in my life from some wrong choices that I had made, and wanting nothing but a drink of the presence of God, wanting nothing but God's mercy and forgiveness by His blood. It may not necessarily be because of sin in our past that we find ourselves in a state of unbelievable thirst. When are heart is pure before the Lord, God will prune us and make us more like Him. When we seek His face we will find ourselves crying out to him as He sharpens us and clips things from His spiritual branches to be one with the vine. I feel like God is bringing the body of Christ to a place of oneness with Him like never before. God is breathing His holiness and alignment upon His body to get the mixture out, and things that are in need of filtering will bring forth that feeling of needing God more than anything. Are you facing that thirst in a certain area, and need a drink of His living waters today? Just reach out to Him and He will be there for you.
Prayer:
Lord we come to that living water today for a drink of that everlasting water that gives us that assurance of eternity. We put all of our mistakes and failures under your blood and give you all today. Lord you are the only one who can feel that void that we feel, and you are the only one who can give us that drink that we need in our life. Help us Lord to stop and evaluate our life as we drink of your presence. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, June 20, 2010
June 20th Devotional
Read:
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
There was a story told one time about what the difference between the law and grace was. This story gave an example of an ole' hound dog that wanted to be a German Sheppard police dog. When the old man would come to do role check with all of the other German Sheppard's, the hound dog would sit there and act like a German Sheppard police dog, and bark like a Sheppard police dog. The old man finally got tired of him acting like a German Sheppard police dog and told him one day, "your not a German Sheppard police dog!" The ole' hound dog said, "sure I am!" I can talk, act, and walk like one. So one day the old man came with a quail behind his back. When he pulled that old quail out, that old' hound dog jerked and kicked and ran after that old quail. You see, the quail is like the law. That quail strengthened what was really inside of him. This is what the law of God does. It strengthens what is already in us before we are born again. The only way we can be changed on the inside is to repent of our sins and make Jesus Christ Lord of our life. We need a miracle, and if it were not for the grace of God that really changes us and make us new creatures, we would never really be changed on the inside. You can take an old donkey, pull his ears back, make him look like a beautiful race horse, but when you put that old donkey on the race line, he will kick and scream and act just like an old donkey. You can take a pig and call him Feefy. You can walk him, feed him dog food, and let him sit at the foot of your bed, but eventually that old pig will run right back to the mud where it was created to be at. Thank God for His grace that can change our old spirit and make us brand new in Him. The Greek word for creature in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is Ktisis and it means the act of founding, establishing. Our new spirit on the inside of us has no bad past. We still have memories in our head and emotions about our past, and that's why we need the blood of Jesus everyday to purge our "conscience" from dead works through a healthy repentance, but our spirit is brand new and unused. The Greek word for new in this scripture is Kainos and it means recently made, unused and unworn. I want to encourage you today if you don't know Christ in a true conversion to really repent and ask Him to change you on the inside. If you have accepted Christ Jesus don't try and walk this Christian walk alone. You can't change yourself before you come to Christ, and you can't grow in the Lord through the law after you have accepted Christ in your own righteousness. It's all by His grace. His grace will help you do things that you can't do. It will help you walk in the spirit, and it will guide and direct you in His ways.
prayer:
Lord we come to you today and ask that you help us to totally rely upon your grace to get us through each day. Help us to realize that there is nothing we can do in our own strength that helps us to walk in your spirit. We need you Lord and we love you today. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
There was a story told one time about what the difference between the law and grace was. This story gave an example of an ole' hound dog that wanted to be a German Sheppard police dog. When the old man would come to do role check with all of the other German Sheppard's, the hound dog would sit there and act like a German Sheppard police dog, and bark like a Sheppard police dog. The old man finally got tired of him acting like a German Sheppard police dog and told him one day, "your not a German Sheppard police dog!" The ole' hound dog said, "sure I am!" I can talk, act, and walk like one. So one day the old man came with a quail behind his back. When he pulled that old quail out, that old' hound dog jerked and kicked and ran after that old quail. You see, the quail is like the law. That quail strengthened what was really inside of him. This is what the law of God does. It strengthens what is already in us before we are born again. The only way we can be changed on the inside is to repent of our sins and make Jesus Christ Lord of our life. We need a miracle, and if it were not for the grace of God that really changes us and make us new creatures, we would never really be changed on the inside. You can take an old donkey, pull his ears back, make him look like a beautiful race horse, but when you put that old donkey on the race line, he will kick and scream and act just like an old donkey. You can take a pig and call him Feefy. You can walk him, feed him dog food, and let him sit at the foot of your bed, but eventually that old pig will run right back to the mud where it was created to be at. Thank God for His grace that can change our old spirit and make us brand new in Him. The Greek word for creature in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is Ktisis and it means the act of founding, establishing. Our new spirit on the inside of us has no bad past. We still have memories in our head and emotions about our past, and that's why we need the blood of Jesus everyday to purge our "conscience" from dead works through a healthy repentance, but our spirit is brand new and unused. The Greek word for new in this scripture is Kainos and it means recently made, unused and unworn. I want to encourage you today if you don't know Christ in a true conversion to really repent and ask Him to change you on the inside. If you have accepted Christ Jesus don't try and walk this Christian walk alone. You can't change yourself before you come to Christ, and you can't grow in the Lord through the law after you have accepted Christ in your own righteousness. It's all by His grace. His grace will help you do things that you can't do. It will help you walk in the spirit, and it will guide and direct you in His ways.
prayer:
Lord we come to you today and ask that you help us to totally rely upon your grace to get us through each day. Help us to realize that there is nothing we can do in our own strength that helps us to walk in your spirit. We need you Lord and we love you today. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
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