Does Your Talk Match Your Walk

I'm glad you can dance and shout and run the aisles, but can you live for God when nobody's looking? Do you walk the walk at work, school, in your neighborhood, and community?

There are two reasons why people do not become a Christian:

1. They've never met a Christian.
2. They've met one who is a hypocrite.

If our lifestyle outside the church building doesn't match our exuberant worship inside the church building, then we are not true worshippers.

We are commanded to walk in the Spirit, and in so doing, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. If we walk daily in the Spirit, overcoming the lust of the flesh, then our dance will be true worship!

We are instructed to walk in love. People are hurting in our community. Some have been robbed of what true love is all about. Let's lead our neighbors to the cross where they will experience God's love.

Moses and Zechariah both wrote that we are to walk in God's ways. A daily walk in the ways of God will keep us away from the ways of the flesh.

Take your concordance and look up the words "walk" and "walking" and you'll see the importance that Scripture places on our walk with God. We are to walk uprightly, walk properly, walk in newness of life, walk by faith, walk humbly, walk in wisdom, walk in Christ, walk in the light, and so much more!

Let our testimony be that of Zechariah and Elizabeth: "And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord." (Luke 1:6 ESV)

Don't Judge me Until the Storm is Over!

Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)

(24) Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

(25) And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

(26) And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

(27) And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Imagine one beach but two houses built identical in color standing next to each other.

The only difference is that one is built on the rock beneath the sand and the other is built on the sand itself.

From a distance, they wouldn't seem to be any differences. Maybe not even up close.

But now a storm is brewing in the distance. Let's run for cover because it's about to rain. And we might want to get hip waders on because when it rains here in my imagination for this blog, it also floods. Of course, in Jesus' parable floods came too, so I'm really just copying Him.

And as an added precaution, let's also close up all the windows, because there's a fierce wind starting to blow.

Fast forward ---->

OK, the storm is over and the sun is breaking forth between the clouds.

GASP! One of the houses isn't standing anymore. The one built on sand is gone. Destroyed. Beyond repair. I hope no one was in that house.

But the other one is still standing. There's some shingles missing and the shutters blew off. In fact there's some pieces of siding missing too. But the structure is sound and everyone inside is safe.

OK, here's a trick question... ready? "Which house would you rather be inside of during the storm?"

Have you noticed that some people can be judgmental so easily. Have you ever noticed that some have a mindset that thinks when you're in a storm, something must be wrong or you must have done something wrong.

As if the favor of God left you just because it started raining!

Sure, those flood waters rising out there mean that you're bound for hell - do not pass go, do not collect $200; you might as well go straight to hell. RIGHT!

Oh, let us not forget the fierce wind. That must mean God is really mad and is blowing off some steam at you.

Here's an encouragement for somebody today... DON'T JUDGE ME UNTIL THE STORM IS OVER! Because if my house is still standing, then you'll know I was built on the Rock!

Storms are NOT necessarily God's tool of judgment. Think Paul. He had a thorn in his side (storm) and God decided to let it stay there and give Paul sufficient grace to deal with it instead.

Jesus was FULL of the Spirit. Jesus was LED by the Spirit (same One) into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil - YIKES! Jesus came out of the wilderness in the POWER of the Spirit!

Oh, and by the way, it rains on the just and the unjust. Just sayin'

You see, if you're built on the Rock, you ain't got nothing to worry about. I know that ain't good English, but it's good preaching!

I say all you need to do is check the foundation. Make sure you're built on the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone. If you're on that foundation, then don't fret when the storms come - you'll still be there when they're over!

I may be in a storm, but don't judge me until the sun breaks through the clouds and the storm is over!

GLORY HALLELUJAH!

The Next Step!

Psalms 37:23-24 (NKJV)

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

What a beautiful verse of Scripture. What a beautiful promise from the Lord.

Lately, I've been reading through Deuteronomy and I've noticed a phrase that appears over and over - "the place the Lord will choose". So far, I've found it in thirteen different verses. I may have missed some, and still have more chapters to read, but I've found enough to establish the thought in my mind.

We all love it when God chooses the next step for us and it's to a new mountaintop experience. But what about those steps that lead us into yet another valley?

Sometimes the place that the Lord chooses is not what we would choose, but letting go of our will and accepting His will is the best choice we can make. When it comes to these trying times, few of us have 20-20 foresight, but all of us have 20-20 hindsight. So, why don't we learn from the last valley we were in and apply the principles for this new valley we're in.

Go back and look at Psalm 37:23-24 again. God not only directs us steps, but He delights in every detail of our lives. WOW! God is interested in you and about you!

God knows who you are...

Where you are...

And why you're where you are...

In other words, God's got the circumstance under control. He's not aloof to your life. He's not deaf to your cry. He's not blind to your tears. Keep on reading saint of God!

You may fall, BUT YOU'RE NOT STAYING DOWN!

Oh, come on, I know this is a blog, but somebody needs to shout "YEAH!" I might get knocked down, but I ain't gonna' get knocked out!

Like Job, I can declare, "I looked to the right and left, in front and back, and could not perceive Him, BUT I KNOW THAT HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE! And when I come forth, I shall come forth as purified gold, tried in the fire!"

He orders my steps - everyone of them. He also orders my "stops."

God is in control, not me. Not my education, or money, or ideas. Let the will of the Lord be done. He's upholding my hand.

Let God choose the place.

I highly recommend that you read Psalm 37, and just in case your Bible is not within grabbing distance, I've included it at the end of this blog. Just remember, as you begin to read Psalm 37 that nothing ever occurs to God.

Psalms 37:1-40 (NKJV)

1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.

13 The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct.

15 Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever.

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.

22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.

28 For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.

33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

Jesus Paid it all

Jesus paid it all.

All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain.

He washed it white as snow.

I love these old songs. They may be "oldies" but they are still "goodies" and I highly recommend that we don't stop singing them ever!

It saddens me that a recent review of the top 40 Christian songs revealed that not one of them mentioned the blood of Jesus Christ. Love was mentioned over 100 times, and while I'm thankful for the love of Jesus, you cannot separate the precious blood of Jesus from His love!

It was because of His great love that He became sin, who knew no sin, that we might become His righteousness! This happened by Him purchasing the Church with His own blood! And this blood was precious blood!

The real tragedy of the top 40 Christian songs is that if I were to sing the lyrics to my wife, one would not be able to tell the difference. If a song is that generic in it's approach to God, how can it be called "Christian?"

But that's for another blog... and another time... Now back to this blog...

Jesus paid it all. We are thankful for His sinless sacrifice. Without His shed blood, forgiveness of sins would be impossible. He became our High Priest and Lamb all in one! He fulfilled the Law and became the Mediator of a perfect covenant - the New Covenant!

We are bought with a price - BLOOD! What a price! What a Savior! What a Redeemer! The Creator of everything robed Himself in flesh to become the sacrifice for sin - WOW! If that doesn't cause you to want to love and worship Him, I don't know what will.

BUT what about the next line of the chorus of the song?

"All to Him I owe."

Yes, that one.

I love to preach and teach about the price He paid for me, but what price am I willing to pay for Him?

Imagine if a couple were to be married and the groom repeats his vows with sincerity and love, then the bride just simply says, "Thanks, now let's move on" without repeating her vows with sincerity and in love.

What kind a marriage do you think that would be?

Do you want to give God your all? Then deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him daily! (Luke 9:23).

"You will either pay the price to live for God or you will pay the price to live for yourself." ~ Roland Belanger.

Yes, we're saved by grace through faith. Works do not save us. BUT, be careful to keep reading your Bible. In the same passage (Ephesians 2:8-10) you will note that we are also saved to do good works.

We are to build upon the foundation, which is Jesus Christ. You can choose from either wood, hay and stubble or gold, silver and precious stones. These are the elements you can choose to build with and your "building" will be tested by fire. If you've built with the surface elements of wood, hay and stubble, your "building" will be consumed and turned to ash. But if you've built with the deeper elements of gold, silver and precious stones, your "building" will become more valuable!

Jesus paid it all - thank You Lord... now, sing the next part with everything in you... ALL TO HIM I OWE...